Giles hits back to take a treble

Ashley Giles was the three-wicket star as England battled well to stay upright in the first Test after absorbing a double body blow here today First, they were hit by losing vastly- experienced batsman Nasser Hussain to a viral infection less than an hour before start of play.

Then Michael Vaughan, Hussain's successor as captain, lost the toss to leave England facing the prospect of batting last on a pitch expected to take increasing turn - and against a Sri Lankan side including three specialist spinners.

However, on a day shorn of around 30 overs because of a wet outfield this morning and a heavy shower this afternoon, Vaughan's troops fought brilliantly beneath the old Dutch fort which dominates one end of the Esplanade ground.

Their successes with close of play looming amounted to four wickets, three for Ashley Giles and one for Andrew Flintoff.

But, vitally, they restricted Sri Lanka to 138 runs from 60 overs when play ended, never letting dashing batsmen like Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara off the leash. Vaughan's men were second favourites going into this match and the odds against an away victory lengthened still further as openers Marvan Atapattu and Jayasuriya put together a stand of 76. But, just when it was hard to see where a wicket was coming from, Ashley Giles dismissed Jayasuriya for 48.

Even that success arrived with a warning for England, though. Giles turned his 11th delivery sufficiently to find the inside edge of the left-hander's bat for debutmaker Paul Collingwood to hold a straightforward catch at short leg.

Only 20 minutes and seven runs later, the daily weather pattern followed it's now entirely predictable course with a downpour halting play for two hours.