England require a massive effort

Kumar Sangakkara put England to the sword again with a superb innings on day four of the first Test against England in Kandy on Tuesday. The early departure of Alastair Cook and the prospect of Muttiah Muralitharan means that England will have to produce a huge rearguard action on the final day if they are to avoid going one down in the three-Test series.

Bet365 make Sri Lanka 8/15 (1.53) to win it and I have to say that looks on the generous side. Kevin Pietersen will bat through the pain of a finger injury and the sheer pressure of the situation will weigh heavily on the England batsmen's shoulders.

England are 22/1 to reach the unlikely target of 350 for victory - from 9/1 overnight - while the draw is 6/4, perhaps on the short side because the forecast does suggest a storm might provide some respite for the tourists at some stage.

Only once has a side chasing more than 200 for victory in Kandy actually managed to achieve the feat and the day is bound to be about survival.

One gets the feeling that Michael Vaughan will need to play a big role if England are to survive but bet365 clearly don't fancy his chances, rating him 5/6 to go on from his overnight total of one to just 29 or better. That's pretty damning of Vaughan's form, which doesn't look that bad to me.

Night-watchman James Anderson, who has four to his name, is 5/6 to make 11 or better. After them, it's up to the likes of Ian Bell, Pietersen and Paul Collingwood to dig in.

Bet365 go 5/6 that Sri Lanka go on from 157-2 to make 375 or better, while Sangakkara is 5/6 to lift his own score from 30 to 75 or better. Mahela Jayawardene, who will begin Tuesday's play on nought, is 5/6 to make 34 or more.

For the record, of the 20 Tests to have been played at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy have failed to produce a result. Sri Lanka have won six and lost nine, but two of them were to Australia. They have, though, failed to beat England in two Tests on the ground - losing the first one and drawing the last.