Giles and Batty boost England

On a deteriorating pitch that will offer Sri Lanka's spinners increasingly wicked turn, England desperately needed to eke out a first-innings advantage. Instead, with Murali taking seven for 47 from 31.4 spell-binding overs, they conceded a hefty lead of 96.

It could have been worse, too. Top-scorer Mark Butcher was given two 'lives' against Murali and the difference would have been well into three figures but for the tail using a bit of long handle.

But even then England were left clutching at straws after being dismissed for 235.

It is not often that fielding and bowling in sapping heat can be described as light relief.

But Vaughan and Co found some comfort by reducing Sri Lanka to 99 for five second time around. Ashley Giles had Sanath Jayasuriya edging a defensive stroke to slip, Kumar Sangakkar was run out by Paul Collingwood's smart work and then Gareth Batty's arm ball accounted for Marvan Atapattu and Hashan Tillekeratne.

Giles struck again with Thilan Samaraweera snicking to slip via the gloves of wicketkeeper Chris Read but, even so, the lead is up to 195 with two full days to go.

England's raw middle order of Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff and Read was swept away by Murali for a total of two runs. But although Butcher and Graham Thorpe put together a stand of 79 for the third wicket even they were unable to loosen a stranglehold applied by Sri Lanka's spinners.

If England are to make a real fight of it when their turn comes again tomorrow then at least support spinners Kumar Dharmasena, Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Chandana need to be knocked out of their stride.

As for Murali, well, good luck to Vaughan's men.

"I've not faced him bowling as well as that before," said Butcher after top-scoring with 51. "Graham and I have played a lot against him but I would say we were only picking him 50 per cent of the time."

Murali has always had a magical 'wrong 'un', which turns the opposite-way to his off-spinner. Accordingto Butcher, though it was turning-"massive" here. "I've never seen him spin it as much as that and with the disguise," he said.

Having warmed up with the wickets of Marcus Trescothick and Vaughan last night, the spinner produced three different deliveries to remove Collingwood, Flintoff and Read. Collingwood snicked one that just straightened on him, Flintoff was forced back by a quick off-break to be pinned in front of his stumps and Read edged the wrong 'un.

At that stage Murali had figures of five for 33 and, by the end of the innings, he had extended his Test victims by two more to 464 through having Giles and Richard Johnson caught in the deep.