Muttiah Muralitharan claimed four victims to equal Shane Warne's Test wicket record as England slid to 186-6 against Sri Lanka in the first Test.

Muralitharan joined fellow spinner Warne on 708 wickets but was hampered in his quest to clinch the record as rain brought an early end to day two.

England resumed on 49-1, 139 runs adrift of Sri Lanka, and Ian Bell (83) and Michael Vaughan (37) shared 107.

But Muralitharan turned the match on its head to leave England struggling.

By Mark Mitchener

606: DEBATE Discuss the day's play on 606

PLAY ABANDONED FOR THE DAY - RAIN

1044: It may be all over for the day in Kandy, but there's plenty more to come on BBC Sport today. Next on the agenda (at 1100 GMT) is the draw for the Euro 2008 finals (you know, the ones no British teams qualified for). Alistair Magowan is the man in the chair to bring you the full details on who's in the Group of Death.

That's it from me - as I mentioned, we may be starting a bit earlier tomorrow morning, but rest assured, we'll be here to bring you all the action. Do enjoy the rest of your weekend!

1034: That's it - no more play today, after more than an hour and a half of solid rain in Kandy. Murali and his record will have to wait for tomorrow - when we expect that play will start earlier (ulp) as they look to make up some time.

"Were it not for the fact there are no Monks, monkeys, pythons or pooches ambling around, I could well be in Kandy as we speak, owing to the monsoon that is raging outside"
Rich, Aylesbury, in the TMS inbox

1030: This is your half-hourly public service announcement. It's now been raining for over an hour-and-a-half. Coupled with the deterioration in the light experienced yesterday evening, we reckon there won't be any more play today - but we still await an official announcement.

"I just watched some highlights of Sanga's batting. He appears to play away from his body quite a lot but has a truly fantastic eye and great confidence"
OldRegret on 606

"Prior has let his team down today. The pressure was on him to stay in and support Collingwood and he once again proved that he cannot play under pressure. Mustard on the other hand has scored big for his county team under pressure tons of times - and he can actually keep! Prior's catches were schoolboy stuff - and count for nothing"
Umpiredickybird on 606

"Having said 'one of my favourite things is lunch...', is Simon Hughes turning into Mike Gatting? I think we should be told"
Phil Ward in the TMS inbox

"On the subject of the Simpsons, I've always thought Murali looks like Snowball II, the family cat"
Tom W, Stoke, in the TMS inbox

"In reply to Anupam in Coventry, I stop ploughing on through the wee hours without going to bed until I become so delirious my basic grasp of geography completely peters out. That sometimes helps!"
Coop in the TMS inbox

"I missed all of yesterday's play as didn't emerge from my slumber 'til gone 2pm after a heavy night. Had an even better night last night but it seems that the rain has foiled my plan to watch some live action this morning"
Sarah, Bucks, in the TMS inbox

1000: This is your half-hourly public service announcement. It's still pouring down with rain in Kandy and has been for an hour, the entire pitch (including the outfield) is covered and there appears to be no chance of a resumption any time soon. TMS have already gone off air, but we'll keep you posted if there's any official announcement. Scheduled close of play is 1730 local time (1200 GMT), but yesterday they had already gone off for bad light by that time - so don't bank on any more play today, but don't rule it out completely until we know for definite.

"Without KP, England's batting looks absolutely toothless. Belly has a good game now and again, but too inconsistent. I would say even without Murali, Sri Lanka are on par with England. Without Hoggard England's bowling would have been less than ordinary"
DaWatfordBoy on 606

"Don't you reckon Sidey is a dead ringer for Sideshow Bob from The Simpsons?"
BB in the TMS inbox
[I think it's been mentioned before - MM]

"To Coop in Bristol [see 0920 entry]: What do you do for northern hemisphere tours like Sri Lanka, then?"
Anupam in Coventry in the TMS inbox

"John [see 0920 entry], I have just decided upon a superstition for myself. This involves not popping out for a loaf of bread to make a bacon sandwich only to find that when I get back England have decided to throw away three wickets. From here on in I will have spare bread in the freezer"
OSJ, Ankara, in the TMS inbox

0945: After 45 minutes of rain, TMS is going off the air - Aggers fears that the players may not return until tomorrow morning. However, there's been no official announcement - we will soldier on here with the live text until either it's called off, or we resume play.

"I also predict that Monty will break his arm in a freak slip fielding accident... soldier on regardless, amend his action to account for the pain in his arm and take 5 for 13 in three overs in Sri Lanka's second innings... ok, I may be stretching it there - he'd have to get his new action verified first"
Steve Lloyd in the TMS inbox[Monty in the slips? - MM]

"Much as I feel Murali's impending achievment is a wonderous one, I wonder if Warne had played for a more mediocre side like Murali has would he have had the chance to bowl entire sides out himself whilst he had mere support at the other end. Warne has undoubtedly suffered from having the likes of McGrath, Lee, Gillespie and even Hughes taking bundles of wickets at the other end"
Robin, Bromley, in the TMS inbox
[Well done for referencing big Merv - MM]

"Isn't it ironic England's plan failed, they picked Bopara presumably for his ability to bowl and he bowled just one over for eight runs then scored just eight runs. They persist with Prior on the grounds of his batting and he made a duck! Two runs behind with a tail of Sidebottom, Hoggard, Panesar and Anderson means we'll be lucky to crawl into much of a lead and face Murali in the last innings"
Alex in the TMS inbox

"I have just come off a plane and seen the score, it is clear that Murali will break the record and England will lose their 2nd place ranking. Hoping now Sidey and Colly can build a decent lead and our hopes will still be alive"
Ruairi, Oxford, via text on 81111

0934: Aggers on TMS notices that a mechanical "Super Sopper" is ready to mop up the rain off the covers. Meanwhile, Simon Hughes had a "lovely biryani" for his lunch, and reveals his love of the local cuisine after he stayed here for a spell as a teenager. ("CMJ ordered an extra mild curry last night and let out a roar with the first mouthful", reveals Aggers).

"I hope Mitchener knows the names of the Pommie bowlers, he will be calling them soon"
Southsydneynrl on 606[Cheeky - MM]

"Poor Bopara. One, expensive over. And his innings just evened the balance. And, of course, the Matt Prior batting nightmare goes on"
Cricketing_stargazer on 606

0930: This is your half-hourly public service announcement. We've been off for rain for just over half-an-hour, the covers are on, although Aggers on TMS thinks the rain may be easing off slightly. There's still a lot of water on the covers, though. An early tea is being taken, and we'll let you know when anything changes. Anyway, 606 is now open for business, so get involved and let us know what you think.

0920: Tea is now being taken, early, as the rain is still pouring down.

"My greatest superstition when following England is to not open Brian's texts during play. Failure to observe this leads to a quick collapse. What superstitions do other BBC followers observe to ensure England are victorious?"
John, the previously anonymous texter from the lunch interval, via text on 81111

"Hello all, just relaxing in bed listening to TMS at university here in Bristol. The southern hemisphere tours provide excellent late night dissertation/Test cricket sessions. Trust me, I'd rather face one of Murali's doosras than have to complete another assignment"
Coop in the TMS inbox

"I've tried to ignore it but it won't go away. The use of the word 'sidewalk' in an earlier message. That's like Bobby Davro reading the news"
Will, Hampshire, in the TMS inbox[You're being a bit harsh there - I was directly quoting an e-mailer from Canada - MM]

"Sidey to make his maiden Test 50... you know I'm right!"
Steve Lloyd in the TMS inbox
[His only first-class 50 was in 1998, when he made 54 for Yorkshire against Glamorgan at Cardiff - MM]

"Muralitharan has had the world record before, of course - but that was when he was having a friendly duel with Warne. This time, when he reaches 709, no-one will overtake him for a very long time - if ever. It'd have to be a spin bowler to overtake him, but Monty Panesar is only averaging three-and-a-half wickets per Test - so while he could easily play 100 Tests, he'd have to play 200 Tests to get near Muralitharan"
Vic Marks on TMS

"It is a pity I am unable to watch one bowling legend on the verge of breaking the world record of another. I wish written statements could at least contain half the excitement"
Adnan Bashir in the TMS inbox
[I'm doing my best! - MM]

0857:RAIN STOPPED PLAY
The shaggy-haired umpire Asad Rauf rules that the drizzle has worsened and calls the players off. The enthusiastic ground staff pull a huge tarpaulin onto the field.

63rd over - Eng 186-6
Murali corrals two slips, a silly point and a forward short leg for Sidey, who has a rather nervous shuffle of his feet before every ball he receives. Sidey tries to guide one off his hip which just evades Jayawardene junior as he dives forward. Credit to Sidey, he's seen off Murali for a maiden over.

"Morning, Mark. Hanging on to your every utterance as usual. Am feeling somewhat jaded after yesterday's birthday celebrations and am hoping that as soon as I can muster enough energy, a nice bacon sandwich and strong coffee might perk me up. Until then I have no snow to report, no amusing crickety tales and no rash attempts to commentator's curse anyone"
Sarah, Canterbury, in the TMS inbox[Happy birthday for yesterday - the bacon sandwich sounds a good plan - MM]

62nd over - Eng 186-6
Ryan Sidebottom strides out at number eight, which even his fiercest admirers might concede may be a little high for him at Test level. With the cranium of his blue helmet barely containing his wild locks, the left-hander plays and misses at his first ball from Fernando. Sidey eventually gets off the mark with a single off the last ball... which takes him to Murali's end!

61.1 overs - WICKET - Prior c Mubarak b Fernando 0 - Eng 185-6
Aggers's involvement in the Murali 709 sweep is over as Prior prods Fernando straight to Jehan Mubarak at short midwicket. The tail is now exposed.

61st over - Eng 185-5
I was in the crowd at the MCG when Melbourne local hero Warne took his 700th Test wicket last winter, and there's a similar sense of expectation as Kandy local hero Muralitharan runs in, one wicket away from claiming the record in his own right. He tosses it up outside leg stump to Colly, who kicks it away knowing he can't be lbw if it pitches outside leg. It's a maiden.

60th over - Eng 185-5
Aggers notes that if England lose another wicket, "the rabbit hutch will be well and truly open", and Colly takes two to Fernando's first ball. England now trail by just four runs. A single to midwicket reduces the deficit to three. There's definitely drizzle in the air now, and Aggers notices that some of the saffron-robed monks are now watching the action. A moment of confusion then ensues as the drinks trolley (which now has a broken wheel) is brought on - and the ground staff look like they're trying to bring the covers on too.

59th over - Eng 182-5
The England press have been running a sweep on who'll be Murali's 709th (and record) victim - Aggers went for Matt Prior, who is the new batsman, and his prediction nearly comes true as Murali has an lbw shout off Prior's first ball.

58.4 overs - WICKET - Bopara c P Jayawardene b Muralitharan 8 - Eng 182-5
In what is almost a carbon copy of the Vaughan dismissal from earlier, Colly prods forward to Murali and Silva dives to catch the ball at silly point. But this time, Mr Dar says "not out". After Colly takes a single, Bopara nudges one off his legs to backward short leg. Another appeal. It looked a blatant bump ball to me, but after consulting his colleague Asaf Rauf, Dar calls for the third umpire, who almost immediately signals "not out". But there's yet another appeal when Bopara appears to nudge a straight ball down the leg side and into the gloves of Jayawardene junior behind the stumps. That one's out. Murali draws level with Warne on 708 Test wickets.

"Many of the ground staff here are women - they've had some pieces of foam ready to mop up any rain from the outfield"
Jonathan Agnew on TMS

58th over - Eng 181-4
Vic Marks on TMS points out that the end Fernando's bowling from has not been a happy end for Sri Lanka - the collective bowling from that end (including spells from Fernando, Malinga, Vaas and Murali with a brief three-over spell yesterday) has taken 0-104. Bopara nudges a single through midwicket, while Colly grabs a quick one when Malinga does a long barrier to stop the ball at mid-off, but it rebounds away off his knee. Aggers has noticed some light drizzle.

57th over - Eng 179-4
It's Murali's 20th over, and the 14th of this spell which started early in the morning session. Bopara and Collingwood tickle some inoffensive singles as Sri Lanka's lead is reduced to single figures.

56th over - Eng 176-4
Fernando's bowling a lot tighter than Malinga did, but CMJ senses the approach of rain as the hills in the distance disappear behind cloud. Bopara tucks him down to long leg for a single to bring them within 12 runs of Sri Lanka's total. Colly prods into the on-side, but the tall Jehan Mubarak lopes towards the ball and cuts off any hope of a single.

"Sri Lanka look bad apart from Murali. Engerland for 450 by lunch tomorrow"
Michael, 12, Leicester, via text on 81111

55th over - Eng 175-4
Bopara pushes Murali past the trio of close fielders for two into the covers. He's carefully playing Murali from the crease, and guides a single to backward square leg - before umpire Aleem Dar tells him not to run on the pitch.

"I am enjoying your coverage and I am waiting for England's inevitable collapse once they look like establishing a match-winning lead. I am pleased to report that we have no snow at all. Mind you, snow is fairly unusual in Bangladesh, although we do get the odd cyclone"
Andrew in the TMS inbox

54th over - Eng 172-4
Fernando may not be able to hear the drums, but he can certainly hear the trumpeter (who's belting out the tune of "Blue Moon") as he charges in to Colly as Jayawardene brings in a couple of slips. Colly takes a single and Bopara plays a textbook defensive stroke. There's a half-hearted lbw shout as Bopara leg-glances to fine leg for a single - and with no signal from the umpire, Mr Bopara is off the mark with his first Test run. But he now faces the rampant Muralitharan...

53rd over - Eng 170-4
New batsman Ravi Bopara avoids the shame of a golden duck on his Test debut (as suffered by Chris Smith and others) as he misses one which drifts down the leg side. He survives his first three balls - a baptism of fire for the Essex man.

52.3 overs - WICKET - Pietersen lbw b Muralitharan 31 - Eng 170-4
Murali strikes again, and he's hooked England's big fish. Pietersen prods forward at one that pitches on middle and straightens. That's 707 Test wickets for Murali - one behind Warne.

52nd over - Eng 170-3
A change of bowling as Dilhara Fernando replaces Malinga after that wayward 50th over. Pietersen strolls through for an easy single which takes him to 31 (Colly has seven). Colly almost overbalances when he defends a good yorker from Fernando, while the Barmy Army trumpeter announces his presence with the first fanfare of the day.

"Working, with an eye on the progress of the Test. We are hosting the local cricket and rugby club's annual Christmas banquet. Being the only Sri Lankan Canadian, the jokes about the dismal batting are many! I'm proud to boast that I played inter-house cricket on those grounds 30 years ago, while studying at Trinity College, Kandy. It's snowing and minus 5 degrees C right now!"
Mickey Cooke, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, in the TMS inbox

51st over - Eng 169-3
With runs flowing at the other end, Englnad are taking no chances against Muralitharan. Colly survives a loud lbw appeal to a quicker ball which strikes him on the back foot but which was missing leg stump.

50th over - Eng 169-3
Malinga slings in his fifth no-ball, and after Colly takes a single, KP opens the face and easily steers him to third man for four. Captain Jayawardene responds by removing the only slip (the last remaining close fielder) and sending him to third man. The Slinger then strays again with one which goes down the leg side and disappears for four byes. KP then despatches the last ball of the over to the midwicket boundary - that's three boundaries off the over. England are just 19 behind now.

49th over - Eng 155-3
With a packed legside field, Murali goes round the wicket to KP, who reverses his hands and reverse-sweeps him for four. He then tries to scamper a single but the umpires rule that he didn't attempt to play a shot.

48th over - Eng 151-3
Malinga continues, having bowled a four-over spell leading up to lunch. He fires in another no-ball, before Colly nicks one through the vacant slip area to bring up England's 150. He then has to duck a bouncer.

47th over - Eng 146-3
Collingwood gets England going again with a single off Murali's second ball, and Pietersen sees off the rest of the over. Simon Hughes on TMS reveals he had a "hopper" (a thin Sri Lankan pancake shaped like a wok) for breakfast this morning.

0740: Despite those concerns over the covers, we're back out promptly. Murali to continue.

"Minus 10 degrees outside, been clearing the drive and sidewalks all day, still snowing hard, 2ft of snow outside. Finally sat down with a beer to listen to the cricket on the net... how's the suntan, Aggers?"
Dave Cloverdale, British Columbia, Canada, in the TMS inbox

"Following the live text as I am inexplicably awake following a skinful in Majorca last night. Hoping my mate Brian is asleep, as he has an uncanny knack of cursing England's performances with fate-tempting texts such as 'Harmi will rough them up with his first over' at the Ashes in 2006-07"
An anonymous texter with a friend called Brian, via text on 81111

0703: Slightly ominously, the ground staff are bringing the covers on, even though it hasn't actually started raining yet. I'm off to the BBC tea bar for a scooby snack, be back soon.

LUNCH INTERVAL

"I think England's dressing-room will still be the happier of the two, despite losing those two wickets. Muralitharan needs some support"
Angus Fraser on TMS

46th over - Eng 145-3
Bizarrely, some firecrackers are let off (which CMJ on TMS initially mistakes for a rattling train passing by). KP gloriously guides Malinga for four through the covers off the back foot. The Slinger then fires in a bouncer which is called as a no-ball - and the resulting time delay may preclude the chance of another over before lunch. Another bouncer, and another no-ball. And that is, indeed, lunch.

45th over - Eng 139-3
Sri Lanka will want to hustle through their overs quickly here, so they can get two Murali overs in before lunch. Ryan Sidebottom clearly isn't expecting a rapid collapse before lunch - he's scheduled to come in at number eight (after three more wickets fall), but has his feet up and is wearing a blue T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. Murali hurries through his over, getting some bounce against Collingwood, and it's a maiden - his seventh of the innings.

44th over - Eng 139-3
Well, 13 overs after KP and Colly were sharing a joke on the balcony, they're both at the crease with just over 10 minutes until lunch. Pietersen takes a single and Colly successfully defends his first ball off the back foot. He gets off the mark by clipping away a leg-stump yorker for a single. KP then forces a no-ball off his legs to deep backward square leg for four.

"Dawn breaking in a mild and cloudy SW France. Following the cricket, which the French think is a crazy pastime, wishing it was a ball by ball commentary. Every time there's a short delay I have heart failure thinking a wicket has gone down. It can't be the 'exotic' drinks trolley every time, now can it? Keep up the good work for those of us abroad who can't watch on TV or listen on radio"
Hugh in the TMS inbox
[I've occasionally gone ball-by-ball for the last over or two of an ODI or T20 match going to the wire - MM]

43rd over - WICKET - Bell c Silva b Muralitharan 83 - Eng 132-3
Another moral victory for Murali as Bell gets an inside edge which runs safely to midwicket. But his innings is finally ended after 125 balls when he tries to force Murali through the on-side and the leaping Chamara Silva takes his second catch of the innings at short midwicket. That's 706 Test wickets for Murali.

"Players have to change gloves a lot out here, but Robin Smith once changed his gloves in a match before he'd scored a run"
Former Middlesex and England seam bowler Angus Fraser on TMS

42nd over - Eng 132-2
Pietersen nearly gets down on his knees to defend against Malinga's first ball, and then successfully digs out another yorker. He finally gets off strike with a single, and after Bell also takes a single, the two batsmen are brought some fresh gloves and a drink by reserve keeper Phil Mustard, who's on 12th man duties this morning.

41st over - Eng 130-2
As some dark clouds approach the ground, Bell tries to sweep Murali but is again hit on the pad. Murali goes round the wicket but Bell sees off a maiden over.

"Sunny but cold here in Turkey. Bell looks well set up for a century now. Hope KP can keep him company for a while though"
OSJ, Ankara, in the TMS inbox

40th over - Eng 130-2
Vaas is finally off, and we have our first sight of the wild-haired Lasith Malinga since the 10th over yesterday evening. He slings one in right into the blockhole which KP only just digs out, but it flies away through the slips for four off the outside edge.

"Keir, there are many people in the North and East of Sri Lanka who would quite happily swap their lot for your 6-8 inches of snow"
John Hoare, Colombo, in the TMS inbox

39th over - Eng 126-2
Bell takes a well-worked three through the covers off Murali, while KP survives a fairly half-hearted lbw shout. The singles flow freely for Bell and KP, and England now trail by just 62 runs.

38th over - Eng 120-2
Aggers says he saw a hutch full of bunny rabbits yesterday, and I don't think he's talking about the four England tail-end batsmen. He also reveals he was served dinner last night by a waiter wearing rubber gloves, in a "bizarrely-decorated" restaurant right out of a Scooby-Doo cartoon, while the toilets had pictures of scantily-clad women and also of King George V on his horse. The menu was an orange scroll. Far more interesting than Vaas's over, which yields just two singles.

37th over - Eng 118-2
Murali wheels away for the seventh over of his spell, and Aggers on TMS commends captain Jayawardene ("probably the best slip fielder to spinners in the world"). Bell takes a single to bring KP back to the danger end. He's finally off the mark when he sweeps Murali down to long leg for a single.

"I think Aleem Dar's a good umpire, but he's had a bad 10 minutes - I think he got the Vaughan and Pietersen decisions wrong"
Vic Marks on TMS

36th over - Eng 116-2
Vaas continues despite that wayward last over, and Bell looks to off-drive but runs the ball down to third man for four - bringing up Nelson (111). But Nelson doesn't last long as a more deliberate shot by Bell to the same area brings the same result. He pinches the strike with a single to point.

"Following the cricket on live text, Bell sounds good"
Mark in Berlin, via text on 81111

35th over - Eng 107-2
Murali (now on 705 Test wickets) surrounds the bat with close fielders for new batsman Kevin Pietersen. His fourth ball strikes KP on the pad and there's a big shout but ump Dar is unmoved. ("That was more out than the last appeal", says Vic Marks on TMS).

34.1 overs - WICKET - Vaughan c Silva b Muralitharan 37 - Eng 107-2
Vaughan prods forward to Murali. Chamara Silva snaffles the catch at silly point. Vaughan stands his ground, but Aleem Dar raises his finger. The England captain's innings is ended, although replays suggest the ball came off his pad and didn't hit the bat at all - while the TMS team speculate over whether Vaughan may be summoned by the match referee for staying in his crease just a little too long.

34th over - Eng 107-1
Vaas strays with a long-hop which Vaughan pulls to the midwicket boundary to bring up the England hundred, as well as the century partnership which Bell has dominated. Vaughan guides another one towards square leg, and although Fernando scampers round from long leg to field, the batsmen trot back for two. Vaas isn't really bowling to his 7-2 off-side field at the moment, it's fair to say. After Vaughan takes a single, Bell also guides the ball into the vast (or should that be Vaas-t) open spaces on the leg side for a couple. NIne off the over, is it time for a burst from the Slinger?

"We've had one aerial stroke from Bell, which was a mis-hit, but Murali has already put three men back on the boundary very quickly"
Former Somerset and England off-spinner Vic Marks on TMS

33rd over - Eng 98-1
The players are suitably rehydrated and Vaughan continues to prod forward to Murali, who goes round the wicket and Vaughan dabs one past backward point for a single.

"These two bowlers work in tandem pretty well, as Vaas is left-arm over so he creates footmarks for Muralitharan to bowl at. England are in a wonderful position here, but their main hope of winning the match will be if they can put together a large first-innings lead"
Simon Hughes, "The Analyst", on TMS

32nd over - Eng 97-1
Vaughan off-drives Vaas but it goes straight to the tall Jehan Mubarak at Reasonably Short Extra Cover. CMJ likens the off-side ring to a collection of Subbuteo football players. Vaughan tries to on-drive this time, and it goes fairly straight as they run a single. Umpire Asad Rauf boosts the England score by signalling a no-ball. Bell then comes across his stumps to a ball which leaves him and passes his gloves, although there's a half-hearted shout for a caught behind from keeper Jayawardene. The eccentric-looking drinks trolley is brought on.

"Mark, it's a little before midnight here in Minnesota. I'm sat reading the live text whilst watching the snowplough drivers trying to decide what to do about the slow moving train holding them up. We got 6-8 inches of snow, and right about now Sri Lanka sounds pretty good"
Keir Monelle, Buffalo, MN, in the TMS inbox

31st over - Eng 95-1
Murali begins a new over as KP and Colly share a joke in the England dressing-room. He sends one in from wide of the crease which Vaughan completely misses as he tries to flick it away to leg. CMJ and Simon Hughes on TMS think Vaughan can spot Murali's notorious "doosra" (the ball which looks like an off-break but spins like a leg-break). A rapid over from the Kandy man, and Vaughan guides the last ball to short fine leg for a single.

30th over - Eng 94-1
Vaas replaces Fernando at the TMS commentary box end. His unusual field includes a first slip, a gap at second slip, a third slip, a gully, a man at Reasonably Short Extra Cover (see earlier) and a huge gap at midwicket. No sign of the Slinger yet today. Bell then penetrates Vaas's carefully-placed off-side field with another well-timed four.

"The Aussies took the Sri Lankans to pieces last month down here, so hopefully us 'poms' can do the same - now time to wake up the bub (Asha, named after the glorious Ashes of 2005, rather than the appalling 2006/7 tour) and get back to the beach"
Giles (in sunny Dunsborough, WA), in the TMS inbox

29th over - Eng 90-1
Bell tries a cross-batted swat at Murali but misses the ball and it hits him on the pad. Jayawardene has moved mid-on back after that mis-hit shot in the last over, which Simon Hughes on TMS thinks may be a mistake. He then tweaks one prodigiously which evades Jayawardene junior behind the stumps and they run a bye before the England duo take a single apiece.

"Come on England I'm a kid but I am supporting my team. Bell for a century and 380 tonight!"
An anonymous (but optimistic) texter, via text on 81111

28th over - Eng 87-1
Vaughan drills Fernando between short leg and midwicket for four. Don't forget, if you're just getting up, you can also follow all the action on BBC Sport on your mobile, PDA or other gizmo - there's no excuse for not keeping in touch if you're off on your travels!

"Mark, pity you and I are awake at 5am on a Sunday morning... but hey England is at least doing well. What a treat if Murali doesn't get his 5 wickets in this series"
Vinayak in the TMS inbox

27th over - Eng 83-1
Bell doggedly defends his first ball from Murali, but the second one is quicker which forces him on to the back foot. A few anxious moments for the Warwickshire man as he gets an inside edge onto his pad. But he attacks Murali's last ball of the over, advancing down the track and hitting it in the air but safely to the wide mid-on area and it goes through for four.

"Part of the reason why Bell has been so successful is that he's playing so straight, while Vaughan is trying to work the ball around a bit more. It was disappointing for Sri Lanka that Fernando began the day's play with a half-volley. But I don't think Bell has faced Murali before, so this should be interesting"
Simon Hughes, "The Analyst", on TMS

26th over - Eng 79-1
Radio 4 listeners rejoin the action as Bell turns Fernando to midwicket for a single. Vaughan sees off the rest of the over before determinedly striding away to receive a new pair of gloves. The e-mails have been very quiet this morning, are you all sleeping off hangovers?

25th over - Eng 78-1
It's time for the Kandy man as local hero Muttiah Muralitharan enters the fray. He needs five wickets to overtake Shane Warne's record of 708 Test victims, and he tosses it up to Vaughan with close fielders on either side of the wicket. Vaughan dabs one towards captain Mahela Jayawardene at slip who makes a diving stop, and Vaughan in turn has to dive back to get back in his crease. A maiden for Murali.

24th over - Eng 78-1
No dogs on the pitch yet, but there are two massive Alsatians being kept on a tight leash by two policemen just outside the boundary. One of the kind-hearted law enforcement chaps offers his dog a plastic cup full of water, which the thirsty mutt clearly appreciates. Fernando beats Bell's outside edge with one that stays lower than Bell anticipated as the Warwickshire man loses his balance and falls over. First maiden of the day's play.

23rd over - Eng 78-1
Vaas removes the silly mid-off but has two fielders close to each other in a position which I've described before as "Reasonably Short Extra Cover" (ie not short enough to be termed "silly"). Angus Fraser on TMS notices that Vaughan is wearing rubber-soled shoes rather than spikes, and is concerned that it may be related to his reluctance to bowl himself. The England skipper has to fend off a no-ball which Vaas gets to bounce more than normal - but he guides it through the vacant fourth slip area for four. Radio 4 LW's listeners have the Shipping Forecast inflicted on them as the over comes to an end.

22nd over - Eng 71-1
A quieter over from Fernando as the TV camera picks out an England follower in the stands dressed as Queen Elizabeth II (complete with mask and gloves). Vaughan on-drives for a single, and Bell prods a short ball back down the pitch.

"Fernando has quite a dainty run-up for a big, barrel-chested man - and he's booked in to have ankle surgery in April"
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew on TMS

21st over - Eng 70-1
After Vaughan takes a quick single, Bell continues to overshadow his captain with an exquisitely-timed cover drive for four. Meanwhile, elsewhere on the subcontinent in Kolkata, Pakistan have already lost Salman Butt and Mohammad Yousuf today as they reply to India's mammoth first-innings total of 616-5.

20th over - Eng 65-1
As Aggers reveals he took 666 first-class wickets (a diabolical number indeed), Bell reaches his 15th Test fifty as he works Fernando off his legs and the fast outfield does the rest of the work as it sails away to the midwicket boundary for four.

19th over - Eng 61-1
Chaminda Vaas returns for his second spell, bowling with a silly mid-off as well as a couple of slips, and Vaughan glances one to leg where a good stop at midwicket restricts him to a single. Bell then guides one to third man where Jayasuriya belies his age by sprinting after the ball and saving four. Bell gets three runs, but is warned by the umpire for running on the wicket. Vaughan confidently sees off the rest of the over.

18th over - Eng 57-1
We start a full eight minutes early. Dilhara Fernando takes the first over of the day, from the end Muralitharan was bowling from last night. Fernando didn't get a bowl last night because of the fading light, and Ian Bell drives his first ball back past the bowler for four. A great way to open the day for England, and it brings up the team's fifty. The last ball strikes Bell as he edges it onto his thigh pad, and it shoots between the keeper and first slip for another four. Bell now has 44.

"What's happened to this 4.30 start? I've been wide awake for half an hour. I switched on Radio 4 and heard Gordon Brown speaking; I switched off and cooked some sausages instead"
John Traynor in the TMS inbox
[It was eventually an 0452 start - MM]

0450: The umpires and fielders are out there already - we might be starting a few minutes early after all. Remember, I'll need your help on the e-mails and texts - do get involved and let us know your views on the day's play.

0447: If you missed the first day, Matthew Hoggard was England's hero in the morning as they reduced Sri Lanka to 42-5 at one point before Kumar Sangakkara (92) and Prasanna Jayawardene (51) added 106 for the sixth wicket. But the tail folded quite quickly as Monty Panesar took three quick wickets, and they were bowled out for 188.

England then lost Alastair Cook third ball, but Michael Vaughan and Ian Bell looked quite comfortable before bad light ended the day's play. Right, you should be up to speed now.

0445: The TMS team are back on the air on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC Radio 4 Long Wave, as well as the BBC Sport website if you're a UK user. Aggers wants some "sensible, disciplined batting". Would be nice, wouldn't it?

0430: Good morning, good morning - despite the rumoured threat of an early start after we lost 10 overs to bad light yesterday evening, we're on course to start at 0500 GMT as we did yesterday.