England keep series hopes alive

England batted impressively on the final day of the second Test against Sri Lanka to secure a draw and keep alive their hopes of drawing the three-match series. The home side still have the lead going into the final Test in Galle, starting on Tuesday, but the momentum is with England.

Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell all showed courage with half-centuries on day five in Colombo and Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and some timely rain ensured they earned a well-deserved draw.

Sri Lanka still sit in pole position after their win in the first match but England will now believe they can win the final match to secure a drawn series.

The home side have won six of the 11 Tests played in Galle, losing two and drawing the other three. England battled hard to save the match on their last visit there, a big improvement on a defeat by an innings and 28 runs first time round. However, Sri Lanka have lost their past two Tests there - to Australia and South Africa.

For all the ability of Muttiah Muralitharan, the second Test showed that Sri Lanka will miss Sanath Jayasuriya more than they perhaps thought - as much for his canny ability to break partnerships as his attacking batting. Without him, they struggled to break England down in Colombo and England's confidence will be up.

Sri Lanka are narrow favourites to win in Galle, at 11/10 (2.10), with the draw also short at 6/4 (perhaps a sensible price given that Sri Lanka don't need to win to clinch the series, which is what they are after) and England are 10/3.

With Matthew Hoggard looking as if he will be fit to return after missing the second Test with a back problem, that might not be such a bad bet.