Matthew Hoggard struck late on to boost England's hopes of winning the second Test after rain and Sri Lanka's batsmen had frustrated them on day three.

Hoggard trapped Tillakaratne Dilshan lbw for 59 to end a stand of 125 with Michael Vandort (89), which wiped out the tourists' 154-run deficit.

Sri Lanka closed 40 ahead on 194-5 and 100 more could pose problems on a pitch offering turn and variable bounce.

But Hoggard's strike means England remain favourites to clinch victory.

LATEST UPDATES (All times BST)

1908: Two silly points in for Vandort, but he nudges one round the corner to get Maharoof on strike. Maharoof is surrounded by fielders, but manages to block the final ball and Sri Lanka lead England by 40 runs at stumps.

1903: Vandort times Hoggard straight down the ground for four. Blowers is purring in the TMS commentary box - delightful stroke. Vandort moves on to 85 with another straight drive to the boundary and collects three more with an attractive shot through the covers. Eleven from the over.

1859: Maharoof is next in and Panesar beats him with a fizzer. One from the over and there are two more overs left this evening.

1855:WICKET - SRI LANKA 181-5: DILSHAN LBW B HOGGARD 59
A desperate, slightly strangled lbw appeal from Hoggard against Dilshan - but Dar rightly adjudges that there was bat in it. However, Hoggard gets his man next ball, Dilshan getting stuck in his crease. The ball did look a little high, and Dilshan makes a point of rubbing his thigh as he passes umpire Dar. Wicket-maiden from Hoggard.

1851: Sri Lanka are looking rock solid and with a few more runs on the board, England might start to worry. Would you fancy facing Murali on a turning pitch on the last day needing 200? A Panesar maiden.

1846: Hoggard goes around the wicket to Vandort and the Sri Lanka opener moves into the 70s with an outside edge for four. Strauss mis-fields in the covers and Vandort keeps the strike.

1842: Panesar has a good lbw appeal flatly refused by umpire Hair - Dilshan got a good stride in. Two from the over, and just six overs left.

1837: Hoggard is wheeled back out and Vandort edges him just short of gully. Vandort is then beaten outside the off-stump groping for one. Collingwood has taken up an unusual position close in in a 'fourth slippish' sort of position. None from the over.

1833: Flintoff digs in a bouncer and it loops about six feet over Vandort's head and dribbles to wicket-keeper Jones. Bizarre. Three from the over.

1828: Vandort sweeps and the ball deflects off Cook at forward short leg for a single. Pietersen shies at the stumps and gives up an overthrow. Four from the over and Sri Lanka lead by 14.

1824: Vandort's father apparently took Holiday On Ice on a tour of Ceylon, as Sri Lanka was then, in the 1950s. Flintoff has a vociferous lbw appeal turned down by umpire Hair. Dilshan then dabs Flintoff down to third man for four. Ten overs to play this evening.

1820: Sky's snickometer shows that the ball that beat Panesar four overs ago actually got a nick. Strange one, as Jones didn't even appeal behind the stumps.

"Oh look! There are lots of bears doing a conga behind the boundary. There's a brown bear chasing a white bear. How splendid!"
TMS commentator Henry Blofeld

1816: It's the skippers turn to turn his arm over. Dilshan brings up his 50 with a controlled hook off Flintoff for one.

1814: Sri Lanka take the lead with a single from Dilshan. The hundred partnership comes up.

"I was driving home from a damp Rose Bowl listening to talk of Monty Panesar's double in the crowd at Edgbaston. It's not an original idea. In 1958, a British film, I Was Monty's Double starring John Mills, described the true story of a cunning plan by the Allies during WWII."
Dave Allen in the TMS inbox

1809: Another tight over from Collingwood, but England don't look like taking a wicket. Can Flintoff pull a rabbit out of the hat?

1806: Dilshan darts down the pitch and pushes the ball for a single off Panesar. Monty serves up a short one and Dilshan carves him away for four to take the visitors past 150. Panesar spins one past Dilshan's outside edge next ball.

1803: The players take drinks at Edgbaston.

1758: Collingwood is thrown the ball - perhaps his wobblers are what England require. He cuts Vandort in half with his first delivery and the ball comes off his back leg and falls just short of wicket-keeper Jones. A maiden over from the Durham all-rounder - the first of the day.

1754: Vandort flicks the ball just past the short mid-wicket fielder. Risky shot. Panesar continues to ask questions and is keeping both batsmen honest. Monty goes up for an lbw, but the ball pitched well outside leg stump.

1749: Four from Mahmood's over and the sun is shining at Edgbaston - we could get play until 2000 BST.

1746: Another tight, varied over from Panesar - just a single from it.

1742: Vandort, feet nailed to the floor, wafts outside his off-stump and is beaten by Mahmood. Not much rhythm from the Lancashire paceman.

1739: Vandort tries to drag Panesar from outside his off-stump and misses completely. Lovely stroke from Vandort, who picks up three runs down to mid-off.

1734: It's penalties in the League One play-off final between Swansea and Barnsley. But try telling that to Collingwood, who pulls off a fine stop in the gully to limit Vandort to a single. Mahmood drops one in short and Dilshan cuts him away for four to move to 39.

1729: The covers come off Panesar and Flintoff posts a short extra cover and a short leg. Vandort hoicks him over mid-wicket for four. Sketchy. Vandort dabs the ball down to third man to reach his third Test fifty. Dilshan leaves a straight one and is struck on the pads - but the ball pitched outside leg stump. His final delivery beats Dilshan all ends up and clips his hip on the way to first slip. Good over from Monty.

1727: The tall Vandort flicks Mahmood off his legs for a single.

"Keith Pont, on more or less his debut for Essex, was fielding at long leg at both ends, found a child's tricycle and pedalled down the pitch between overs..."
TMS summariser Vic Marks

1720: Dilshan flicks Hoggard away for four. Hoggard dishes up his third no-ball of the day and fourth of the innings. Panesar is limbering up - his introduction looks imminent.

1716: A loosener from Mahmood and Dilshan flogs him away to the square leg boundary. Plunkett is back on the field, so perhaps I was misinformed - maybe he will bowl tomorrow after all. Five from the over.

1711: Vandort drives expansively and the ball pierces the two gully fieldsmen and runs away for four. Hoggard chunters on the way back to his mark.

1709: Plunkett is off the field because he fell and hurt his shoulder on Friday. He won't bowl this innings.

"There always seems to be more discussion on wicket-keepers than any other position. Basically, Geraint Jones is missing too many catches and does not look like Test keeper. He has become an intregal part of the side due to results, and not his ability or performances."
Former England wicket-keeper Jack Richards via e-mail

1704: Dilshan tucks Hoggard away for a single and Panesar's pick up and throw is greeted with more cheers, which the spinner must be growing a little weary of now. Vandort plays an uppish drive that just goes past short extra cover.

1700: Vandort drives Flintoff down the ground for two to move on to 35. The ball isn't doing a great deal and both batsmen seem pretty comfortable.

1653: Hoggard of Yorkshire goes up for an lbw appeal, but umpire Dar rightly says it would have missed leg stump. Dilshan comes forward and is beaten by a ball that pitches and seams away. Hoggard strays on to Dilshan's legs and gives away four leg-byes. A bit of blue sky above Edgbaston now.

"A magpie flies up to the pavilion, has a look at Gus Fraser and flies off again."
TMS commentator Henry Blofeld

1649: Frederick Flintoff shares the new ball with Hoggard. Vandort takes a quick single to Gary Scott out on the leg side and Dilshan just manages to makes his ground.

1647: Plunkett is off the field and his Durham team-mate Gary Scott is the substitute fielder. Hoggard has first go with the ball and gives up two runs. Panesar gets some ironic cheers as he fields the ball out at deep square leg.

1642: The England team huddle in the field and Jerusalem is belted out in the crowd. A group of Oompa Loompas have won the fancy dress prize for the day, although you see more orange people on a night out in Romford.

1640: There will be 34 overs plus another half an hour today, weather permitting. Players out in five minutes.

1611: Play at Edgbaston will start at 1645 BST. Ave Maria.

1600: The umpires are taking another stroll and Aleem Dar and Darryl Hair are rolling a cricket ball around the outfield to gauge how much water is still about. More news soon.

1535: There will be an inspection at 1600 and we should have an idea whether we will have any action today.

1451: Umpire Hair says they will inspect the pitch every half an hour and that it is unlikely there will be any play before tea. There is still a little bit of spit flying about and the field will take some drying out.

1446: It's stopped raining at Edgbaston and umpires Dar and Hair are taking another look - this time with umbrellas at their sides. It looks a little brighter now.

1359: The umpires are out in the middle with their umbrellas up - it's still raining and play is looking increasingly unlikely.

"The covers are still on, the umbrellas are up and it has the feel of 'no play today' about it..."
TMS commentator Simon Mann

1256: John Challis, Boycie from British sit-com Only Fools and Horses, is having a chat with Aggers on TMS. Apparently, people ask him to say "Marleeeeeene" all the time.

1230: The teams have taken an early lunch in Birmingham as rain continues to fall.

1109: Still thick cloud cover at Edgbaston, and Henry Blofeld on TMS reckons we're not likely to get any play before 1 o'clock.

1034:There is no chance of a prompt start. There's persistent drizzle and the covers are on. But the forecast for the afternoon is better.
Pat Murphy on Five Live