A catch not given, and plenty dropped

England had made an encouraging start, removing Kusal Perera to a dubious glove down the leg side, and Jade Dernbach was finding some movement in the heavy atmosphere. His first ball to Mahela Jayawardene was a perfect length, squared up the batsman and flew towards point where Michael Lumb held a fine, low catch. Or so it seemed. That wasn't how the third umpire viewed the pictures after Jayawardene stood his ground. Steve Davis ruled there was doubt, as is so often the case with TV pictures, but on this occasion few who viewed the images could quite fathom the decision.

It was not a classic innings from Tillakaratne Dilshan, who continues to battle for form, but there was the odd classic shot. None more so than his first boundary, a perfectly executed scoop - which, of course, carries his name - when he went down on one knee against Tim Bresnan. He later played another off Dernbach and there was even the odd smile of appreciation from an England player or two.

Jayawardene had just top-edged a six off Tim Bresnan and attempting another pull a top edge this time looped towards mid-on where Dernbach found himself. He had oodles of time to steady himself under the ball and prepare for the test of catching a slippery ball. It was one he failed as the ball burst through his hands.

It was then Dilshan's turn for a life. This time it was a short ball from Broad which he pulled towards deep square-leg and he could barely have picked out Bresnan better. Perhaps, to Bresnan, it looked like a bar of soap coming his way as it slipped through his grasp.

Bresnan. Again. Jayawardene carved a full toss from Dernbach towards deep cover. This time Bresnan did have to run to his right but should still should have held on. Dernbach, perhaps remembering his earlier error, barely showed a flicker of emotion.

Under lights, on a humid evening with dew around, Nuwan Kulasekara was always likely to be a handful and he proved so straight away. After keeping Michael Lumb scoreless for four balls the left-hander charged and missed before Kulasekara took Moeen Ali's outside edge first ball with a perfect length delivery which nipped away and went to second slip.

Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan had given England's chase some stability with an excellent century stand, but they still needed some big overs if they were to chase down 190. Hales duly delivered in the 15th of the innings as Ajantha Mendis, who has not had the hold over England of other unorthodox spinners, was taken for 25, which included three sixes. By the end of the over, England really believed.

Yet, with such a step chase there was always the risk one over could sway the game. For a moment that appeared to have come for Sri Lanka when Kulasekera returned for the 17th, claiming Morgan and Jos Buttler while conceding just five runs. It left England needing 34 off 18 balls and Lasith Malinga had an over left, but they did not let the game slip away.