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England suffer nightmare in Test against Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka batsman Tillekeratne Dilshan unsuccessfully dives to avoid being run out by England cricketer Kevin Pietersen during the second day of the third and final Test between Sri Lanka and England at The Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday. PHOTO: AFP

England's chances of saving the Sri Lanka Test series looked over yesterday when they were shot out for just 81, their lowest total against the hosts, in the third and final Test.

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene hit an unbeaten 213 and Chaminda Vaas ripped through the top order to leave England, trailing 0-1 in the series, in tatters on the rain-hit third day at Galle International Stadium.

Left-armer Vaas followed his 90 in Sri Lanka's 499-8 declared with four wickets as England collapsed in just 30.5 overs and were forced to follow-on 418 runs behind.

The tourists were 2-0 in their second knock in the lone over bowled by off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan with the new ball before bad light halted play for the day.

England's paltry 81 fell below their previous low of 148 against Sri Lanka in Colombo on the previous tour in 2003.

Paul Collingwood's 29 was the top score as eight batsmen failed to reach double figures on a wicket that afforded bounce but was not treacherous, as the Sri Lankan batsmen showed.

The hosts, denied two hours of play in the post-lunch period due to heavy rain, have six sessions to force a victory and secure a 2-0 scoreline that will lift them to second place behind Australia in the official Test rankings.

Sri Lanka's total revolved around skipper Jayawardene's double century and his 183-run stand for the seventh wicket with Vaas before the declaration came 50 minutes before lunch.

England found themselves in deep trouble at 22-4 in the short period of play before the break, losing captain Michael Vaughan, Ian Bell, Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen in an eight-over burst.

Vaughan was given out leg-before to Vaas when he left an inswinger and Bell was run out at the non-striker's end by a direct throw from point by Tillekeratne Dilshan.

Cook was unlucky to be given out caught behind off Vaas by umpire Asad Rauf, as television replays showed the ball may have missed the outside edge of the bat.
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