Jayawardene had to bat with a runner

The tourists suffered an early blow when captain Sanath Jayasuriya failed to beat Michael Vaughan's throw from the deep and was run out for 18 attempting a third run.

Kumar Sangakkara appeared to have regained his touch until he lost concentration straight after a drinks break and edged a Matthew Hoggard delivery to Andy Flintoff at second slip.

The wicket-keeper's 10 runs was his second lowest score in 21 Test matches.

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But the wicket signalled a period of total domination for Sri Lanka, as England were unable to take a wicket in the afternoon session and were reduced to complaining about the condition of the ball.

Atapattu was lucky to survive a close run-out decision on 46 as Vaughan hit the stumps with a direct hit, but video replays proved inconclusive.

Butcher had no joy during a long day for England

He was also given the benefit of the doubt when Vaughan hit his pads, but he went on to record his 10th Test century in 177 balls, hitting 13 fours.

Jayawardene was hurt when he attempted to pull a Flintoff delivery, that hit him on the hip.

But that did not prevent him giving a batting masterclass as he hit his ninth Test ton in 177 balls, including 13 fours.

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He was finally out on 107, chipping a Flintoff delivery to Marcus Trescothick at midwicket.

England took the new ball late in the day but Atapattu (133) and Aravinda de Silva (24) had no problems playing out to the close as Sri Lanka look set to post a huge total.

England: N Hussain (Essex, capt), ME Trescothick (Somerset), MA Butcher (Surrey), MP Vaughan (Yorkshire), GP Thorpe (Surrey), JP Crawley (Hampshire), A Flintoff (Lancashire), AJ Stewart (Surrey, wkt), DG Cork (Derbyshire), AR Caddick (Somerset), MJ Hoggard (Yorkshire).

Sri Lanka: ST Jayasuriya (capt), MA Atapattu, K Sangakkara (wkt), DPMD Jayawardene, PA de Silva, RP Arnold, HP Tillekeratne, WPUJC Vaas, DNT Zoysa, PDRL Perera, TCB Fernando.

Umpires: Srinivas Venkatraghavan (India), Daryl Harper (Aus)