Cornered English stand tall

Gareth Batty (26) and Ashley Giles (17) led England’s rearguard action, batting for nearly an hour in fading light before Batty was bowled by Muttiah Muralitharan an hour before the end.

Giles and Richard Johnson, surrounded by a cluster of fielders, survived a further 41 minutes before Johnson played onto his stumps. Giles, who faced 111 balls and batted for nearly two hours, and last man Matthew Hoggard faced 19 balls before the umpires offered bad light with 21 minutes remaining. Muralitharan followed his seven wickets in the first innings with four for 47 from 37 overs in the second, to finish with 11 for 93, his 12th 10-wicket haul in 83 matches. The final half-hour saw the umpires checking their light meters almost every over before England were offered the light, sparking jubilation among the tourists and resignation among the home side and their supporters.

Mark Butcher (54) and Paul Colingwood (36) had provided the main top-order resistance after the morning loss of Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick and Graham Thorpe. Dinusha Fernando started matters with the third-over dismissal of Vaughan, who edged an outswinger to first slip. Trescothick, aggressive early on, was then bowled by Sanath Jayasuriya for 24 with a delivery that deceived him in the air as he advanced down the wicket.

The breakthrough ended a high-tempo, 46-run partnership with Butcher that had delighted a large contingent of English supporters. Thorpe (10) also tried to dictate terms against the slow bowlers, slog-sweeping Jayasuriya for an early four.

But Muralitharan, spinning the ball like a top, induced him into a hesitant leg-side heave, the ball ballooning off the leading edge to Chaminda Vaas at mid-on.

Collingwood was fortunate to survive a bat-pad appeal for a catch in the gully that was referred to third umpire Gamini Silva moments before lunch.