BBC SPORT | ENGLAND ON TOUR | England make late breakthrough

Day One, Third Test, Colombo:
First innings Sri Lanka 221-7 v England (close)

The deciding Test has begun in colourful style on the opening day which has seen England grab seven wickets, entertaining batting from Sri Lanka and two more controversial decisions.

England will be delighted after Robert Croft and Ashley Giles claimed four late wickets, including the vital scalp of Mahela Jayawardene, who had piled on 71 dazzling runs in a total of 221.

With the series tied at 1-1, England battled back impressively having been put in the field as Nasser Hussain's luck with the toss continued its miserable run - his third successive loss in a row.

The controversy that has overshadowed all the Tests raised its ugly head again, as umpire David Orchard failed to spot an edge from Aravinda de Silva into Hussain's hands from Giles.

Early nerves

Although the questionable decision will occupy much attention, De Silva's and Jayawardene's battling fourth-wicket partnership amassed 97 invaluable runs to help build their first innings score.

Sanath Jayasuriya at the crease
Captain Sanath Jayasuriya out for 45

After Sanath Jayasuriya had elected to bat on a surface ideal for run-making, it was Andy Caddick who struck first for the tourists.

Marvan Atappatu was back in the pavilion in just the second over of the day, losing his off stump to a swinging ball from Caddick without having troubled the scorers.

Darren Gough grabbed England's second wicket of the day after toiling in the humid conditions.

Kumar Sangakkara had looked in fine touch but his entertaining innings of 45 came to an end with the recalled Michael Vaughan catching behind of point.

The skipper and Sangakkara had settled the nerves after their early loss with some impressive strokes in the morning session as the opening bowlers tired in the sweltering heat.

Just reward

Craig White, in particular, had a miserable few overs with Sangakkara smashing the all-rounder to all corners of the ground.

Croft struck three times during the day and had come within a whisker of an early wicket as Hussain caught Jayasuriya in the slips, but the ball was adjudged to have hit the ground first.

Andy Caddick celebrates the first wicket
Caddick grabbed the first wicket of the day

He was soon rewarded for some persistent bowling to take the third wicket of the day.

The Welshman claimed Jayasuriya's wicket with White catching behind point after the skipper had added 45 runs.

De Silva was finally undone by Giles - caught close in by Michael Vaughan, but the controversy returned with a questionable leg before given against Russel Arnold (0) off Giles.

Robert Croft piled on the agony to Sri Lanka at the end of the day by bowling Tillekeratne Dilshan leg before for five runs, but his greatest prize will have been Jayawardene's.

Sri Lanka: S T Jayasuriya (Capt), M S Atapattu, K Sangakkara (Wkt) P A de Silva, A V P Jayawardene, R P Arnold, T M Dilshan W P U J C Vaas, C R D Fernando, D Hettiarachchi, M Muralitharan

England: M A Atherton, M E Trescothick, N Hussain (Capt) G P Thorpe, A J Stewart (Wkt), M P Vaughan, C White, R D B Croft A F Giles, A R Caddick, D Gough

Umpires: Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka) and David Orchard (South Africa)
TV umpire: Bulathsinghalage Cooray (Sri Lanka)
Match Referee: Hanumant Singh (India)


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