Dilshan gives Sri Lanka an unbeatable advantage

Close England 294 and 89 for 2 (Vaughan 50*) require another 279 runs to beat Sri Lanka 382 and 279 for 7 dec (Dilshan 100, Jayawardene 52)
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Tillakaratne Dilshan celebrates his second Test century to put Sri Lanka in control © Getty Images

England were left fighting to save the second Test at Kandy after a sparkling century from Tillakaratne Dilshan helped Sri Lanka to gain a dominating lead of 367. Michael Vaughan led the quest for safety to close on a battling 50 not out, but with two wickets down and 278 runs behind, England will need a couple of hundreds - or rain-storms - to save them tomorrow.

The only blemish in Sri Lanka's day was Hashan Tillakaratne's delay in declaring. He waited until 20 minutes before the scheduled tea break to call time on their second innings. Only time will tell whether his caution will come back to haunt him, as it did at Galle.

However, Dilshan showed no such hesitancy as he put Sri Lanka firmly in control with the first hundred of the series. He carved ten fours and a huge six - over midwicket off Andrew Flintoff - to prick the bowlers' optimism after two wickets had fallen in the first four overs of the day. He and the more steady Mahela Jayawardene shared a valuable stand of 153, which has almost certainly put England out of the match.

England, though, made the best possible start with the early wickets of both overnight batsmen, Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara, and they sensed an opening. But Dilshan, who had been a thorn in their side during a free-flowing first-innings 63, was once again in a commanding mood. Particularly ruthless on anything wide, he made room on several occasions to drill England's bowlers through the ring of fielders on the off side, and sped to his fifty from only 61 balls.

Jayawardene produced a more ponderous innings, but with his partner in such fine form, he did not need to take any risks. The pair brought up their hundred partnership in the 47th over, and none of the bowlers was capable of forcing an opening.

Dilshan soon chalked up his hundred off 127 balls with a leg-side flick, and set off wild celebrations in the crowd. But after he had reached the heady heights of his second Test century - his first was all of four years ago, against Zimbabwe at Harare - his eye-catching innings came to a tame end when he charged down the pitch to Gareth Batty and was stumped by Chris Read (206 for 4).

As the lead approached 300, Jayawardene, looking for quick runs, was bowled through the gate by a full ball from a tired Flintoff (212 for 5). There was little celebration from the fielders, though, and Tillakaratne carried on their agony. He stroked a sprightly 20 before Thilan Samaraweera and Chaminda Vaas then helped themselves to 29 quick runs, with six fours and a si between them, as the lead reached 360.

Tillakaratne eventually declared, and it was a case of backs to the wall for England ... again. Their rocky road to safety became even steeper when they lost Marcus Trescothick early on. He was incredibly fortunate to survive an lbw from Dinusha Fernando on 8, but he couldn't make his luck count. He played a horrible slash at a wide one from Vaas and steered it to Jayawardene at a wide first slip (24 for 1).

Mark Butcher opened his innings in a positive manner, belting Fernando past mid-off for four. However, he became increasingly uncomfortable against the spinners, and was stumped for the second time in the match - although it was a lot closer this time. He pushed forward to Muttiah Muralitharan, was beaten by the turn, and the third umpire correctly ruled him out as his boot was on the line when Sangakkara whipped off the bails (50 for 2).

Vaughan, meanwhile, was at his unflappable best. He played a succession of peachy cover-drives and delicate sweeps, and brought up his second fifty of the match with another classical drive off Vaas.

Nasser Hussain survived a close appeal for lbw first ball, but, along with Vaughan, battled away against the spin attack of Murali and Kumar Dharmasena. Hussain began scratchily, but grew in confidence, and even stroked his old buddy Murali for a sweet square-drive shortly before the close.

As usual in this series, the umpires convened at the end of each over to discuss the light, and after two discussions they offered it to Vaughan and Hussain - who needed no second invitation. They jogged off knowing that much rests on their shoulders if England are going to repeat their great escape from the Galle fortress here at Kandy tomorrow.