BBC SPORT | ENGLAND ON TOUR | Defiant Thorpe boosts England

Day Two, Third Test, Colombo:
First innings Sri Lanka 241 v England 175-4 at close

Graham Thorpe was on hand to rescue England from a perilous position, and leave them within 66 runs of Sri Lanka's total of 241.

The tourists had started promisingly, but succumbed to a fearsome barrage from Sri Lanka's spinners after lunch.

It looked as though England's rapid tumble of wickets would continue, until Thorpe stepped into the breach.

The Surrey left-hander formed a powerful partnership with Michael Vaughan (26) to spearhead an England fightback just as the home side seemed to be taking control.

Thorpe's unbeaten 71 runs helped guide the tourists to 175 for four at the close of play.

Early progress

England had made a positive start with openers Michael Atherton and Marcus Trescothick producing 45 runs without loss before lunch.

But just nine balls after the interval, Atherton was trapped leg before pushing forward to left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas.

Then in the next over, Marcus Trescothick had an unlucky break when he gave Dinuka Hettiarachchi his first Test wicket.

The opener's attempted slog somehow got caught up in the shirt of Russel Arnold at short leg.

Soon after, it looked as though it might be a good day for Nasser Hussain after he received an unexpected reprieve by an umpires' mix-up, but the captain was caught out in the next over.

MarcusTrescothick
Russel Arnold's lucky catch takes out Trescothick
Hussain appeared to have been the victim of another wrong umpiring decision when he edged left-arm spinner Dinuka Hettiarachchi to Mahela Jayawardene at slip.

Television replays showed that Jaywardene took the low catch on the half volley.

After Asoka de Silva conferred with Bulathsinghalage Cooray via walkie-talkie, the umpire changed his mind.

However, the skipper failed to capitalise on the reprieve as he drove Hettiarachchi straight to fellow captain Sanath Jayasuriya at short extra cover soon after.

Alec Stewart was Sri Lanka's fourth victim as the much-feared Muttiah Muralitharan took his first wicket of the day.

Earlier, the England bowlers were quick to mop up the Sri Lankan tail on the second morning of the third and final Test.

Sri Lanka, 221 for seven overnight, were all out for 241 after Darren Gough and Andy Caddick finished the job with the second new ball.

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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