Sri Lanka build impressive lead

Chamara Kapugedera opens up on the way to his first Test fifty as Sri Lanka take charge © Getty Images

Steady as she goes was the Sri Lankan method on the third day at Trent Bridge and it proved mighty effective as they took a firm grip on the deciding Test. Kumar Sangakkara struck the first half-century of the match and Chamara Kapugedera the first of his international career as the lead grew steadily. It was by no means one-way traffic, as Monty Panesar claimed three wickets, but the blows did not come quickly enough for England's liking.

Before play the Sri Lankan camp had spoken of wanting a minimum target of 250 to defend before unleashing Muttiah Muralitharan. There was one of two ways they could reach that mark; an innings of individual brilliance or a team effort. They took the latter route. Sangakkara sparkled in typical style, Mahela Jayawardene fought hard and Kapugedera produced a superbly mature innings at a vital time.

Crucially, Sangakkara and Upul Tharanga did not allow England the boost of an early wicket and ensured that they nullified the threat posed by Matthew Hoggard. Sangakkara showed the class which has been evident each time he's come to the crease and his driving off front and back foot was imperious as he notched his second fifty of the series from 108 balls. When Panesar was introduced as first change Tharanga used his feet, determined not to let him settle, punching him through the offside for a boundary then handsomely lofting a straight six.

But Panesar had his revenge three balls later when he returned to over the wicket and got a delivery to bounce as Tharanga went at it with hard hands. Worryingly for England, Panesar found turn not just from the footmarks but also from the unscuffed parts of the pitch. Sangakkara continued with his positive intent but again failed to convert an elegant innings into a substantial century. Andrew Flintoff put in another wholehearted display, despite carrying a problem with his ankle, shifting Sangakkara with one that slanted across and was taken at slip with a little bit of a wobble.

Sri Lanka then adjusted their order, moving Jayasuriya up one place to number No. 5, which kept the right-left combination at the crease. He creamed his first ball to the cover boundary but didn't last much longer. Facing his first delivery from Panesar, Jayasuriya went for a sweep and Darrell Hair decided he'd been hit on offstump. Panesar continued to impress with a probing spell, varying his pace and flight to stop the batsmen settling.

Andrew Flintoff took the key wicket of Kumar Sangakkara, but appeared to be struggling with his ankle © Getty Images

With this brief attack of the jitters, Jayawardene realised the pressure that was on his shoulders. He'd taken to play himself in, edging one short of third slip and then flashing a square cut past Paul Collingwood at backward point, who didn't pick up the ball. Tillakaratne Dilshan showed his quick footwork and along with Jayawardene continued to eke Sri Lanka forward, leaving Flintoff searching for inspiration.

He turned to Liam Plunkett, who had bowled just two overs before the call from his captain, and it did the trick for England as Jayawardene relaxed and played an airy drive which left him disgusted. His frustration spilled over and he knocked out a stump with his bat as he headed off. A quick apology to the umpire followed, but the match referee will certainly be interested. It showed the tension in the contest and how much Sri Lanka are putting into trying to level the series.

Despite the captain's departure the lead continued to grow with Kapugedera settling in with some crisp strokes through the offside. His first 25 runs were vital because in match were scores have come slowly they arrived in just 32 balls, swinging the momentum back Sri Lanka's away, before being becalmed.

Dilshan could do little about his dismissal and the ball from Hoggard would have been good enough for better players. However, Farveez Maharoof, could have helped himself - if only he'd used his bat. Facing up to Panesar, he misjudged the line and opted to not play a shot and watched the timber get rearranged.

Kapugedera, given a life on 34 when Marcus Trescothick spilled a tough chance low to his right at first slip, gritted his way to a 117-ball fifty and along with Sri Lanka's batting sensation of the series - Chaminda Vaas - the pair achieved the team's aim of batting out the day. Anymore they can add in the morning will be a bonus; then the focus will be on one man and his magic.