Trescothick acknowledges his 50

Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick put on 168 for the first wicket, but Vaughan was given a double reprieve by Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya, who spilled two early catches at first slip.

The opener was constantly troubled by Sri Lanka's left-arm seamers angling the ball across his body, and edged behind on 28 and 33 where Jayasuriya failed to hold the chances.

Trescothick scored the 19 runs he needed to complete his 13th Test 50 and brought up the 100 partnership at the same time with a boundary.

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Vaughan hit a streaky boundary over cover off Chaminda Vaas and took a single next delivery to record his own half-century as both openers survived the morning session.

Trescothick was unlucky to be given out lbw for 76 by umpire Darryl Harper soon after lunch after he got a big inside edge to a Nuwan Zoysa delivery.

Jayasuriya reflects on a dropped catch

Vaughan hit a cover driven boundary to reach 99 and was involved in a tense game of cat-and-mouse with the Sri Lankan bowlers before pushing a single to reach his century.

He appeared well set and it was a surprise when he edged a Ruchira Perera delivery to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara after making 115 off 219 balls, including 17 boundaries.

England captain Nasser Hussain announced his arrival to the crease by charging Aravinda de Silva and hitting an airborne straight boundary, but Mark Butcher appeared content to play an anchor role.

Hussain played sensibly but took his chances, smashing a six over long-on off the bowling of Jayasuriya, and cut Zoysa for four to ensure that Sri Lanka would have to bat again.

Butcher reached his half-century with a flick for two runs and Hussain followed soon after by easing Charitha Buddika through long-off for a boundary.

Hussain was hit twice on the fingers, and the umpires ended play early in the gloom when he was struck on the shoulder by a Chaminda Vaas bouncer.