BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | England take charge

Second Test, Edgbaston, day three
England 545 all out; v Sri Lanka 162 all out & 132-2 (close)

If ever Sri Lanka needed a typical Marvan Atapattu innings it is now, with England holding sway in the second Test at Edgbaston.

Atapattu loves nothing more than digging in for a scrap and by reaching the close on 56 not out, he readied himself for yet another marathon effort at the top of the Sri Lankan order.

Along with Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka's most gifted batsman, Atapattu has relaunched the Sri Lankan innings after a buoyant Matthew Hoggard had taken two wickets in three balls.

But Sri Lanka ended the day 251 runs behind England, who will be looking to polish things off on Sunday.

Hoggard had earlier 'nursed' Graham Thorpe to his 11th Test hundred as England took a 383-run first innings lead.

Thorpe was finally dismissed for 123 after sharing a 91-run final wicket stand with Hoggard, who chipped in with 17 as the Sri Lankan attack looked lacklustre.

Graham Thorpe jumps for joy after bringing up three figures
Hoggard emerged as England's hero in the afternoon session following-up his highest Test score with two wickets as Sri Lanka lurched to disaster.

360 degree panoramic images of Edgbaston

He tremoved both Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara with inswinging yorkers as Sri Lanka slumped to 30 for two.

Jayasuriya was bowled for 12 before Sangakkara fell leg before for one as Sri Lanka floundered in the face of England's 383-run first innings lead.

Under pressure

In the face of mounting pressure Sri Lanka steadied the innings after tea with Jayawardene and Atapattu adding 102 in an unborken third wicket stand.

Thorpe's fine form for his country continued as he scored his second hundred against Sri Lanka, and in doing so he passed 5,000 runs in Test cricket.

The Surrey left-hander is a vital cog int he England middle order and the manner in which he played the spin of Muralitharan set an example to his colleagues.

Soft hands and a tight technique against the turning ball has seen Thorpe get the better of the world's best spinners in recent years, including Muralitharan, and he looks in great shape this summer.

He struck 12 fours in his 229-ball innings and in doing so passed 5,000 runs in Test cricket before top edging a catch to third man.

England had started poorly with Nuwan Zoysa striking three times as batsmen tossed their wickets away with loose strokes.

Andrew Flintoff was the first to fall when he was caught at short leg to give Muttiah Muralitharan his fifth wicket of the innings.

Alex Tudor did not hang around too long before falling for three when he was caught at second slip off Zoysa.

Ashley Giles was caught behind for a duck when he pushed forward at Zoysa, who took his third wicket when Andy Caddick was brilliantly held by a diving Kumar Sangakkara behind the stumps.

The Sri Lanka bowlers then lost their discipline as Hoggard and Thorpe stretched England's lead past 350.

After his unexpected efforts with the bat it will now be down to Hoggard and his colleagues in the England attack to round off victory for their side.