Giles and Kirtley take command

James Kirtley bowled himself into contention for a place in next week's first Test at Galle, and Ashley Giles showed a welcome and timely return to form, as England took control on the shortened first day of their warm-up match against a Board President's XI in Colombo. Play was called off at tea after the now-habitual bank of clouds rolled towards the ground and poured down. But by then, the Board XI had slumped to 142 for 8 after winning the toss.

England began the day like a team desperate to put a dreadful week behind them. Kirtley had been due to fly home with the one-day specialists on Monday, but stayed with the party as cover for James Anderson, whom he had helped to twist his ankle during an energetic squash match on Thursday evening. He bustled in from his long run, and required just four legitimate deliveries to claim his first wicket - Michael Vandort lbw for 1 (3 for 1). He might in fact have struck even earlier, but umpire Dissanayake turned down a stone-dead appeal second-ball, when Vandort offered no stroke to a ball that arced into his pads.

Kirtley was lively and accurate throughout, and his skiddy pace and eager approach provided a passable resemblance to Darren Gough. Chamara Silva edged to Geraint Jones for a 13-ball duck (6 for 2), and Jones added a second catch to his collection when Dhammika Sudarshana drove at a half-volley outside off stump (19 for 3). The Sri Lankans went to lunch on 69 for 3, but Kirtley required just three balls of the second session to take his fourth wicket, as Gareth Batty clung onto a sharp chance in the gully off Russel Arnold.(69 for 4).

Robert Croft, back in contention after a two-year absence, did not make the best of returns when he reprieved Thilan Samaraweera at third slip. It was a regulation edge off Andrew Flintoff, who is captaining England for the first time in a first-class match, and whether by accident or design, Croft was not called upon to bowl in the first session. Instead Gareth Batty and Giles were given the chance to renew the spin partnership that failed to take off in Bangladesh.

Giles has spent the winter working on a new approach to the wicket, and at last he is showing signs that he has rediscovered his rhythm and balance. He grabbed two wickets in four balls, including a smart stumping by Jones, before dismissing Dilhara Fernando lbw on the stroke of tea. Batty did not go unrewarded either, when Nasser Hussain held onto a regulation bat-pad chance, to end Samaraweera's innings of 32 - the highest score of a piecemeal batting performance.

England 1 Mark Butcher, 2 Nasser Hussain, 3 Graham Thorpe, 4 Chris Read, 5 Andrew Flintoff (capt), 6 Gareth Batty, 7 Ashley Giles, 8 Robert Croft, 9 Geraint Jones (wk), 10 Matthew Hoggard, 11 James Kirtley.

Sri Lanka Board XI 1 Michael Vandort, 2 Dhammika Sudarshana, 3 Chamara Silva, 4 Russel Arnold (capt), 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Rashan Peiris (wk), 7 Bathiya Perera, 8 Ranil Dhammika, 9 Nandika Ranjith, 10 Chamila Gamage, 11 Dilhara Fernando.