1146: CLOSE
England, 2nd Innings nine for one, need 341 more runs to beat Sri Lanka
Vaughan's eyes do the trick as the umpires get together, crack out the light meters and offer it to the batsman. The offer is gratefully accepted, and another day's play comes to a premature end.

1146: Over 5 Jayasuriya starts with a maiden, and almost a wicket-maiden as Vaughan riskily leaves one that goes straight on with the arm and just wide of off stump. Cue the traditional wide-eyed "ooh, this light is awful" look from the batsman.
England 2nd Inns, 9-1: Vaughan 1*, Anderson 4*
England need 341 more runs to win

1143: I suspect the umpires are more behind this bowling change than Mahela Jayawardene is: Sanath Jayasuriya is into the attack to bowl the fifth over of the innings. In his 110th and last Test match, I'll wager it's the earliest he's ever been introduced.

1143: Over 4 Anderson survives a close leg-before shout from Murali, and it's probably a good decision. Might have pitched outside leg, might have gone over the top - either way sufficient doubt to rule in the batsman's favour. Anderson stands tall to work the ball to cover for a single and Vaughan takes another from the final ball of the over to keep the strike. Not sure that's really the best plan.
England 2nd Inns, 9-1: Vaughan 1*, Anderson 4*
England need 341 more runs to win

1140: Here's a good bowling change - Murali's on in just the fourth over.

1139: Over 3 Anderson plays and misses again before playing a couple of tidy cricket shots, working to midwicket for a couple and then through cover off the back footfor a single. It's something that's always struck me about Anderson; he always, always looks like he can bat. Decent stance, solid-looking technique - he looks a batsman. And then he gets out. Vaughan plays out the over with no problem.
England 2nd Inns, 7-1: Vaughan 0*, Anderson 3*
England need 343 more runs to win

1135: Over 2 Vaughan safely negotiates Malinga's first over, digging out a yorker and swaying away from a well-directed short ball.
England 2nd Inns, 4-1: Vaughan 0*, Anderson 0*
England need 346 more runs to win

1132: Malinga to share the new ball.

1131: Over 1 Anderson survives the final two balls of the over, playing at both and hitting neither.
England 2nd Inns, 4-1: Vaughan 0*, Anderson 0*
England need 346 more runs to win

1129: England send out Anderson as nightwatchman. They obviously expect the light to disappear, because in theory they're asking him to survive 17 overs.

1128: WICKET!
AN Cook c Silva b Vaas 4
Cook avoids the pair with a flick to fine-leg for four, but he falls in the first over for the second time in the match, and neatly shows the two flaws in his game; in the first innings, his tendency to block himself off with the front leg and get out lbw was highlighted first time round, now he shows his tendency to play at balls he needn't outside the off stump and give the slips catching practice. Worst possible start for England.

1126: England's openers Cook and Vaughan are out in the middle after a long, tiring day in the field. Always a real test of the openers this sort of session. Vaas to bowl the first over.

1116: Sri Lanka, 2nd Innings 442 for eight declared, have set England 350 to win
So England need a nice round, if fanciful, figure for victory. With Murali likely to set up camp at one end, that ain't going to happen. What England realistically have to do is bat a whole day plus whatever the light allows tonight to save the game. Based on days one and three, England have probably got somewhere between 20 minutes and half-an-hour to negotiate until stumps. So five to eight overs, then. England can take heart from the fact they escaped here from a trickier position on the last tour, a Vaughan century helping England get through 140-odd overs to safety.

1116: Over 130 Fun and games from Fernando, skying basically every ball in the over but always managing to find safety. Seven runs are garnered from the over, taking the lead up to 349. Hard luck, Murali: your skipper reckons that's enough and calls the team in.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 442-8: Vaas 6*, Fernando 9*

1112: Over 129 Just three singles from the over, and the site of Murali padded up and staring out through the grille of a helmet suggest the declaration is not imminent.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 435-8: Vaas 5*, Fernando 3*

1108: Over 128 Fernando gets a single first ball, and Vaas guides the final ball of the over to third-man for two more. England will be quite happy to still be out in the field while the runs are coming at just a slow pace.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 432-8: Vaas 4*, Fernando 1*

1104: The players take a drink, and Sri Lanka's innings will continue. Dilhara Fernando is the new batsman.

1100: WICKET!
SL Malinga b Panesar 2
Could be some cheap wickets for England's bowlers here, as Malinga backs away and tries to hit Panesar away through the offside. He misses, Monty hits, and Sri Lanka are eight down.

1058: Over 127 Malinga's intentions are clear, swinging himself off his feet and getting the ball to long-leg for two runs.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 428-7: Vaas 1*, Malinga 2*

1055: No declaration yet - Lasith Malinga is out in the middle. Sri Lanka lead by 333; so the declaration is probably 17 runs away. Collingwoo, meanwhile, has his best Test figures.

1054: WICKET!
KC Sangakkara c Vaughan b Collingwood 152
Vaughan takes a good low catch; Sangakkara gets out. I'm not sure which is more surpising. Sangakkara clips Collingwood into the legside, but doesn't quite control it and Vaughan catches low at midwicket.

1051: Over 126 Sangakkara gets a single from the first ball of Panesar's over, and Vaas blocks the rest of the over. Sri Lanka could possibly declare now. Alternatively, they can have a dart and try and slap another 50 or 60 in 10 overs. What they definitely should not do is plod along at one or two an over.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 424-6: Sangakkara 151*, Vaas 0*

1047: Over 125 Vaas blocks the final ball of a successful Collingwood over.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 423-6: Sangakkara 150*, Vaas 0*

1046: It took an absolute age to confirm that very straightforward wicket, but eventually Jayawardene departs and Chaminda Vaas replaces him.

1042: WICKET!
HAPW Jayawardene b Collingwood 20
Two singles take Sangakkara to 150, the fourth game in succession he's achieved it. That puts him clear of anyone else in the game's history, leaving some illustrious names behind him on three: Sir Don Bradman, Wally Hammond, Zaheer Abbas. Collingwood then slightly dampers Sri Lankan celebrations by bowling Jayawardene through the gate. There's some confusion while the umpires decide whether it was in fact the ball or Prior's gloves that disturbed the furniture, but it's pretty clear what's happened. Good ball, by the way - moving back significantly off the seam.

1042: Sangakkara 150: 266 balls, 19 x 4s

1039: Sri Lanka's 12th man comes out with drinks and a message between overs. Sangakkara nods assent, and we'll presumably all soon be aware of the gameplan.

1039: Over 124 Sangakkara calls Jayawardene through for a slightly dodgy leg-bye and then works to leg for a far safer single of his own. He's closing on that 150; Surely the pace will quicken once he gets there.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 420-5: Sangakkara 148*, HAPW Jayawardene 19*

1035: Over 123 Four singles from Collingwood's over. They're safely and simply taken, but there's not the urgency there might have been from Sri Lanka since tea.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 418-5: Sangakkara 147*, HAPW Jayawardene 19*

1032: Over 122 Sangakkara - perhaps distracted by winged insects - almost holes out to Swann at long-on, but the ball drops just short. Jayawardene blocks out the over.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 414-5: Sangakkara 145*, HAPW Jayawardene 17*

1028: We're all well used to Dog Stopped Play here in Sri Lanka; now it's Bees Stopped Play. A massive swarm crosses the ground, and all the players hit the deck - remembering that bees are notoriously scared of grass. Bell adopts his best page-seven fella pose, and then gives any watching ladies an extra treat by adding a couple of press-ups before getting to his feet. Broadening the game's appeal there: women and beekeepers.

1027: Over 121 Sangakkara gets a single to mid-off to start Collingwood's over, and Jayawardene ends it with a sweet drive through the covers that, despite his best efforts, Shah cannot overhaul.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 413-5: Sangakkara 144*, HAPW Jayawardene 17*

1023: Over 120 A standard Panesar over: two singles, a bit of spin, an appeal for lbw despite the ball pitching six inches outside leg stump. And six audible shots of "get on that" from Prior.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 408-5: Sangakkara 143*, HAPW Jayawardene 13*

1020: Over 119 Sri Lanka still content to accumulate rather than dominate, nurdling three singles from Collingwood's over. If days one and three are any guide, we've got probably 90 minutes' cricket left tonight before thelight is offered.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 406-5: Sangakkara 142*, HAPW Jayawardene 12*

1016: Over 118 Sangakkara punches to cover for a single to bring up Sri Lanka's 400. I'll wager they've got plenty here, but Jayawardene's desire not to offer England's powerful top six any encouragement is understandable. Three more singles are collected from Panesar's over.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 403-5: Sangakkara 141*, HAPW Jayawardene 10*

1013: Over 117 Collingwood manages to concede just a single. It's perhaps no coincidence that the two England bowlers to have stemmed the runs are the chaps who will be expected to offer most assistance to the batting efforts on the final day - Collingwood and Bopara.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 399-5: Sangakkara 139*, HAPW Jayawardene 8*

1010: Over 116 Jayawardene sweeps Panesar fine on the legside for four as Vaughan gives laboured pursuit. Clever batting, but Panesar continues to leap about in excitement as is his wont. Another lbw decision is knocked back by Rauf, prompting the usual hurt look from Monty.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 398-5: Sangakkara 138*, HAPW Jayawardene 8*

1007: Panesar to continue.

1006: Over 115 Collingwood's over is a tidy one, costing just a couple of singles.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 394-5: Sangakkara 138*, HAPW Jayawardene 4*

1002: Collingwood gets his first bowl of the match. Sangakkara, incidentally, is 13 runs away from another piece of history by becoming the first player ever to score 150 in four consecutive Test matches.

1001: The players are back out for the final session of the day. Mahela Jayawardene presumably has a figure in mind, and he surely wants to get England in to bat tonight.

0939: TEA
Sri Lanka, 2nd Innings 392 for five, lead England by 299 runs
Sri Lanka's - and more specifically Sangakkara's - session as they plunder another 100 runs for just a couple of wickets. Sangakkara has completed his century set and picked up his fourth century in six innings. He's quite good. England aren't - especially in the field where they've been beyond ragged. Bell was the key offender, dropping a clanger at first slip as Sangakkara showed he is human with some surprising nerves in the 90s. Ha ha... Bell clanger.

0939: Over 114 A couple of singles from Panesar's over, and the umpires decide it's time for a spot of tea. They've gone a bit early there, but England won't mind not having to bowl another over.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 392-5: Sangakkara 137*, HAPW Jayawardene 3*

0935: Over 113 Jayawardene gets off the mark first ball with a clip off his hip for a single, and there are two more singles from Sidebottom's over. I hope he gets a wicket - he deserves one for his efforts here. He's certainly more deserving of wickets than Panesar.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 390-5: Sangakkara 136*, HAPW Jayawardene 2*

0931: Over 112 Prasanna Jayawardene joins Sangakkara in the middle. He'll surely play with more intent and purpose than Mubaral did.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 387-5: Sangakkara 135*, HAPW Jayawardene 0*

0930: WICKET!
J Mubarak c sub (Swann) b Panesar 9
Mubarak's bizarre innings comes to an end as he miscues an attempted slog over the legside and gives Swann a simple catch in the deep. And a welcome wicket for Monty as well.

0927: Over 111 Sangakkara drives firmly down the ground for a couple of runs and then picks a slower ball from Sidebottom and drives it through the covers for four. His driving has been the undoubted highlight of this innings - glorious to watch. Anyone who followed the advice on our sister site bettingzone.co.uk to buy Sangakkara's series runs at 265 on the spreads is sitting pretty - he already has 227.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 387-4: Sangakkara 135*, Mubarak 9*

0923: Sidebottom back into the attack for England after a tidy little spell from Bopara.

0923: Over 110 Sangakkara helps himself to a single, and Mubarak plays out the over defensively. Strange partnership this, with little urgency. Whatever Sri Lanka's declaration target is, they'll want to get there quickly; leave it too late and England will be offered the light.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 381-4: Sangakkara 129*, Mubarak 9*

0920: Over 109 A gentle over from Bopara is milked for three gentle singles.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 380-4: Sangakkara 128*, Mubarak 9*

0916: Over 108 Sangakkara starts the over with a single, and Mubarak ends it with a sumptuous driven four through cover. He's a tall man and used all his reach to get right to the pitch and smother any turn. Classy batting.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 377-4: Sangakkara 126*, Mubarak 8*

0913: Over 107 Sangakkara glides the ball to third-man for a single, and Mubarak, apparently unaware of the match situation, defends and leaves the rest of the over from Bopara. England will be grateful.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 372-4: Sangakkara 125*, Mubarak 4*

0909: Over 106 Panesar gets one to spit from the rough and Mubarak gets in a tangle trying to leave the ball. The ball flicks some part of Mubarak and loops to slip, but the appeals for a catch are rejected. Anothersuperb decision from Rauf - that one's off the arm guard. Mubarak finally gets off the mark, playing the shot that gave the stumping chance earlier. This time he gets hold of it and smacks it straight down the ground for four.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 371-4: Sangakkara 124*, Mubarak 4*

0906: Over 105 Sangakkara breaks the shackles in glorious style, threading two exquisite drives through the densely populated offside field and away to the boundary. Textbook stuff.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 367-4: Sangakkara 124*, Mubarak 0*

0902: Over 104 Prior's kept faultlessly up to now, but there's a blemish against him here as he fluffs a tough stumping chance. Mubarak skips down the track and is defeated by extra bounce. But so too is Prior, who cannot gather cleanly. Panesar completes the fourth maiden in a row, though.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 359-4: Sangakkara 116*, Mubarak 0*

0858: Over 103 Three maidens in a row, which is something. The longer England keep Sri Lanka out there the better, and Bopara is doing his bit - he's through five overs for four runs in this innings.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 359-4: Sangakkara 116*, Mubarak 0*

0854: Over 102 Mubarak blocks the final delivery of a successful Panesar over.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 359-4: Sangakkara 116*, Mubarak 0*

0853: Jehan Mubarak is the new batsman. There's no pressure from the match situation, but from a personal view, Mubarak needs runs after a first-innings failure.

0852: WICKET!
LPC Silva lbw b Panesar 37
Silva becomes the latest player to pay the price for thinking he's immune to an lbw decision if he lunges forward. He's perhaps unlucky because the ball was squeezed between bat and pad, and there must be some doubt about which the ball hit first, but pad looks favourite. The ball certainly straightened, and was definitely going on to hit the target.

0850: Over 101 Bopara actually manages to get one past Sangakkara's outside edge and completes a maiden. Both are surprising. Bopara's actually bowled decently in the few overs he's been given. Anyone involved in the fun guessing game of How Big A Lead Before Botham Starts Demanding a Declaration? should know that the winning answer today is 266. That's 266 - step up to collect your prize. Amazing he didn't have a better captaincy record with such sensible ideas.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 359-3: Sangakkara 116*, Silva 37*

0846: Ravi Bopara gets a chance to bowl at Sangakkara, the lucky chap.

0843: Drinks. England's best chance of saving this game was to keep things tight and make Sri Lanka bat as long as possible to reach a declaration total. Instead, they've fielded like clowns, bowled like drains and basically thrown in the towel during an inept hour. If England approach their batting as they've approached their fielding, they are in real trouble.

0843: Over 100 Silva drives hard but straight at mid-off. England are in charitable mood, though, and Swann lets the ball embarrassingly through for four runs. At least Bell can make up for his howler with the bat; Swann, a sub fielder, cannot. In fact, given his fielding efforts today, he might as well have stayed on the boundary and left England with 10. Prior continues to impress with the gloves, though, snaffling a couple of sharp ones as Silva misses a sweep and then deflects the ball with the pads playing no shot. They say a keeper sets the tone in the field, and Prior is certainly trying to do it. Alas, the fielders are tone deaf.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 359-3: Sangakkara 116*, Silva 37*

0839: Over 99 Sangakkara continues merrily onward, dismissivelydriving Anderson uppishly but commandingly to the extra-cover boundary. The lead is up to 262, and Sri Lanka will perhaps want another 100 and then get on with the task of bowling England out.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 355-3: Sangakkara 116*, Silva 33*

0835: Over 98 It's a rotten over from Panesar, unable to even fulfil the Giles role of bowling tidily-but-negatively into the rough. Sangakkara gets a single before Silva swats a woeful delivery down the legside for four. A couple of singles complete the scoring, and England are throwing in the towel now, just waiting for the declaration. England's shoddy cricket since lunch has already ensured they'll face about 10 more overs than they should have done to get a draw. Bell in particular owes it to his side to bat them out.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 351-3: Sangakkara 112*, Silva 33*

0831: Panesar gets a bowl with a pretty new ball.

0830: Over 97 Could be some good entertainment here, with Sri Lanka now having free rein to slap their way to a declaration. Anderson is liable to help them out, and does so with a short, wide gift that Sangakkara whacks through cover-point for four. He helps himself to another single before plays is halted temporarily for the traditional Sri Lankan ritual of the Mangy Dog on the Outfield. It saunters around for a while before finally being ushered from the field to huge applause. That temporary reprieve over, Silva helps himself to a couple of boundaries. The first is a good shot, flicked to fine-leg; the second is more fortunate, edged wide of slip (at catchable height) and fine of third-man. Sri Lanka scoring at a run a ball since lunch and the new ball.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 344-3: Sangakkara 110*, Silva 28*

0825: Over 96 Sangakkara, all nerves and ropey shots thoroughly out of the system now, stands tall and plays through point for a single before Silva deposits a long-hop high over midwicket for a one-bounce four. Sidebottom responds well with a ball that slants across Silva and beats the defensive prod. Dark mutterings from the left-armer, as he mentally removes Ian Bell from the Christmas card list.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 331-3: Sangakkara 105*, Silva 20*

0820: Over 95 England's chance to get Sangakkara goes. He scrapes through the 90s using more luck and with more false shots than the rest of his innings put together, and the shot that takes him to three figures isn't too convincing either, driving the ball just over the man at cover. But overall the innings has been top class, and Sangakkara becomes the ninth player to score centuries against every Test nation, and continues his astonishing recent run of form. A single gives Sangakkara the chance to ergain his composure at the non-striker's end.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 326-3: Sangakkara 104*, Silva 16*

0817: Sangakkara 100: 184 balls, 14 x 4s

0815: Over 94 Sangakkara ducks under a looping bouncer from Sidebottom and then gets the biggest let-off imaginable. Suddenly beset by nerves, Sangakkara fences at one outside the off stump and offers simple catching practice to Ian Bell at first slip, who somehow shells it. He held a snorter last night, but might have just made a costly mistake. Sidebottom kicks the turf in understandable frustration. Sangakkara swings and misses at the next ball and needs to get these two runs quickly. England's only chance of getting him out is to do it before he gets to 100. Sangakkara moves to 99 with a clip into the legside, and Silva watches a bouncer sail hamrlessly over his head to end an over that should have brought Sidebottom a wicket. Will England get another chance?
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 321-3: Sangakkara99*, Silva 16*

0810: Over 93 Glorious batting from Sangakkara to start the over, slapping a short ball from Anderson through the covers for four, and then working the next ball through point for two more. It's his highest Test score against England after twice being dismissed in the nervous 90s, and they almost strike again as Sangakkara aims a huge drive at a length ball from Anderson and makes no contact. He goes after the next ball and gets an inside edge into the pads. He's feeling it, but does manage to keep the strike with a clip to long-leg from the final ball. Just two runs away now.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 320-3: Sangakkara 98*, Silva 16*

0806: Hoggard's off the field, and Anderson is into the attack. Despite the protestations from the England camp, Hoggard's back is a real cause for concern. He's been easily England's best bowler in this match.

0805: Over 92 Silva uses his wrists to guide the ball away behind point for a single, and Sangakkara then has to duck low to get under a well-directed bouncer from Sidebottom. Sanga only just made it, the ball whistling just past the helmet. Sangakkara collects a single from the final ball of the over to keep the strike and close on that elusive first century against England.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 313-3: Sangakkara 91*, Silva 16*

0800: Over 91 Silva gets four for a superb cover drive, but is then beaten by a beauty that shapes away from the right-hander. Silva plays the last ball of the over out to deep point for a single, and the new ball has gone for 19 runs in three overs.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 311-3: Sangakkara 90*, Silva 15*

0756: Over 90 Sidebottom strays down the legside first ball, and the ball flicks off Sangakkara's pads and away for four leg-byes. A push to cover gets a single, and Silva gets his first boundary with a thumping cut shot. Another single from the final ball makes an expensive over, and the new-ball gamble is not working at the moment. The runs are flowing.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 306-3: Sangakkara 90*, Silva 10*

0751: Sidebottom shares the new ball.

0750: Over 89 The new ball almost leaves Silva needing one as it thuds into a delicate part of the anatomy. Silva tries to leave the next one, but gets a bottom edge wide of slip to take the lead to 200. Hoggard gets some big swing back in to Sangakkara, but he easily clips it away for a single. Silva drives out to backward-point, where a fumble from Panesar allows a single. Not a natural backward-point fielder. Sangakkara gets another quick single, and Silva lets the last ball swing harmlessly through to Prior.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 296-3: Sangakkara 89*, Silva 5*

0746: Silva and Sangakkara return to continue their fledgling partnership. Hoggard armed with the new ball.

0745: England's weary players are back out for the afternoon session, and have immediately taken the second new ball. It's a gamble - could slow things with wickets, could disappear to all parts.

0704: LUNCH
Sri Lanka, 2nd Innings 292 for three, lead England by 199 runs
Brilliant session for the hosts as their two key players stepped up. Jayawardene rode his luck early on before becoming increasingly fluent and then seeing his luck desert him - strangled down the legside - on the brink of lunch. Sangakkara has been superb throughout. Only one false shot lingers in the memory - an inside edge just past the stumps - and England have been short on intensity and quality in that session. Batting is unlikely to look as serenely straightforward when England have their second dig.

0704: Over 88 Sangakkara, using all hisexperience, pushes the first ball to deep cover for a single. He'll happily spend the rest of the over leaning on his bat at the non-striker's end before enjoying some well-earned lunch. Silva is beaten by one that keeps low and bounces way short of Prior, who decides to complete the set by standing up to Sidebottom as well. He has had a really tidy morning, and takes the next ball smartly. Standing up to the left-armer is even tougher than the right-armer, with the ball always going across you, but he does the job. An edge along the ground is well stopped by Collingwood at second slip, and Silva gets off the mark with a pleasing drive through the covers for three runs to bring the session to a close.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 292-3: Sangakkara 87*, Silva 3*

0700: Sidebottom back into the attack for England, and there's still no sign of the new ball. Maybe they'll just get through this over and save it for after lunch.

0659: Over 87 Silva lets one go that almost comes back far enough to clip the off stump, but he survives. There'll be one more over before lunch.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 288-3: Sangakkara 86*, Silva 0*

0655: Chamara Silva is the new batsman for Sri Lanka. Hoggard appears to still have the old ball in his hand.

0654: WICKET!
DPMD Jayawardene c Prior b Hoggard 65
England get the breakthrough they need, and Hoggard will surely now take the new ball. It's a complete strangle, but huge credit to two people; Prior for taking an excellent catch down the legside standing up to Hoggard, and to Jayawardene for walking. I think Aleem Dar was going to give him out anyway, but it was only a feather and plenty would have stood their ground.

0653: Hoggard is back into the attack for an over before lunch. He's still got the old ball in his hand at this stage, but expect him to take the new one a couple of deliveries into the over.

0652: Over 86 Vaughan really flighting the ball up to the batsman, but this time Sangakkara gets to the ball on the full and works it to leg for a single. Vaughan gets one to grip and spin down the legside, where Prior fails to take the ball cleanly. Jayawardene cuts hard behind point for a single, and Sangakkara adds another to long-off. Vaughan pushes one through flatter and is worked to leg for a single by Jayawardene. Shoulders definitely starting to slump in the outfield now.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 288-2: Sangakkara 86*, DPMD Jayawardene 65*

0649: Over 85 Jayawardene gets a single from Panesar's first ball, and Sangakkara gets right back and across his stumps to work to leg for another. Jayawardene blocks out the over.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 284-2: Sangakkara 84*, DPMD Jayawardene 63*

0646: Over 84 Vaughan is comprehensively outbowling Panesar at the moment, conceding just a single from the over and again keeping Sangakkara honest with a blend of flight and turn.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 282-2: Sangakkara 83*, DPMD Jayawardene 62*

0644: Over 83 Beautiful shot from Jayawardene, skipping down the track and depositing Panesar straight back down the ground for four runs. Would've been shot of the day, but for that glorious drive from Sangakkara earlier. The next ball is predictably quicker from Panesar, and worked to leg for an easy two. Jayawardene exposes his stumps to cut the last ball of the over to deep point for a single to keep the strike.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 281-2: Sangakkara 83*, DPMD Jayawardene 61*

0642: Over 82 It's decent enough fare from Vaughan. Jayawardene gets a single from the first ball, but Vaughan is prepared to come round the wicket to Sangakkara, and troubles the left-hander with some decent flight and a hint of spin.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 274-2: Sangakkara 83*, DPMD Jayawardene 54*

0639: Vaughan brings himself on in place of Panesar, who will presumably change ends.

0638: Over 81 Sangakkara works Anderson effortlessly into the legside for a sauntered three as Panesar tidies up on the fence, and that brings up a 100 partnership that has undoubtedly put England out of this one. Jayawardene misses out on a rank short ball from Anderson, managing to put it away for only a single to point. No such generosity from Sangakkara, who puts another one away through midwicket but with a bit more power this time and gets four.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 273-2: Sangakkara 83*, DPMD Jayawardene 53*

0634: Anderson continuing, and he's persevering with the old ball.

0633: Over 80 Jayawardene cuts Panesar out to deep point for a single to bring up a half-century that is perhaps most charitably described as streaky. Downright lucky would be another way. The far more fluent Sangakkara adds another single, and Jayawardene gets two more for a clip through midwicket. The new ball is available for England - but do they dare take it against two high-quality, well-set batsmen?
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 265-2: Sangakkara 76*, DPMD Jayawardene 52*

0630: Jayawardene 50: 88 balls, 8 x 4s

0629: Over 79 Jayawardene pushes a single to cover as Anderson continues to strive desperately for some sort of assistance from this dead pitch. Prior still up to the stumps. Sangakkara, meanwhile, is closing in on completing 'the set' of centuries against all nine Test playing opponents. He'll be the ninth to do it should he get there.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 261-2: Sangakkara 75*, DPMD Jayawardene 49*

0625: Over 78 Panesar concedes just a couple of singles from his over, but there's little threat. Vaughan is starting to loosen up, suggesting we may soon have innocuous spin from both ends. What joy.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 260-2: Sangakkara 75*, DPMD Jayawardene 48*

0622: Over 77 Three singles from a forgettable Anderson over. You can learn everything you need to know about this pitch from the observation that Prior, hardly the greatest gloveman in the game, is standing up to England's quickest bowler.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 258-2: Sangakkara 74*, DPMD Jayawardene 47*

0618: Over 76 Panesar does finally get his maiden, but it's achieved in the most negative, Gilo-style imaginable as the left-armer lobs ball after ball into the rough outside Jayawardene's leg stump. The Sri Lanka captain not interested.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 255-2: Sangakkara 72*, DPMD Jayawardene 46*

0611: Drinks. The second drinks break of the session arrives with the game now reduced to two outcomes: a Sri Lanka win or a draw. Sri Lanka have made a real effort to move the game on this morning, perhaps inspired by some less-than-promising forecasts for tomorrow. Thunderstorms are forecast, and England will probably need them to arrive in good time to save the day. If Sri Lanka maintain their current progress, they will certainly want to have a pop at England this evening.

0611: Over 75 Shocking over from Anderson. The first ball is worked off leg stump by Jayawardene for two runs. The batsman does well to reach the next one and slap it through point for four. A single follows, before Anderson generally offers Sangakkara a helping hand he scarcely requires with a juicy half-volley outside the off stump. Sangakkara, polite chap that he is, accepts the gift graciously and drives elegantly yet powerfully through the covers for four.
SriLanka 2nd Inns, 255-2: Sangakkara 72*, DPMD Jayawardene 46*

0607: Anderson back into the attack for England.

0607: Over 74 Jayawardene works to leg for a single, and Sangakkara then gets four with the shot of the day and possibly the match. He skips down the wicket before placing a drive effortlessly through the covers. Just absolute class from a great batsman.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 244-2: Sangakkara 68*, DPMD Jayawardene 39*

0603: Over 73 Sidebottom is just getting the old ball to tail away from Sangakkara a fraction, but the left-hander is equal to the task. Sangakkara drives the final ball of the over behind point and runs hard to get back for two as Swann sweeps up for England on the boundary.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 239-2: Sangakkara 64*, DPMD Jayawardene 38*

0559: Vaughan is back on the field. Things have not improved in his absence.

0559: Over 72 This is getting a bit silly for England now. Sangakkara is completely deceived by a turning ball from Panesar, gets the inside edge onto pad, and somehow managing to loop the ball up and over Alastair Cook at short-leg. Jayawardene bunts the next ball to cover for a single, and gets a bonus run as Sidebottom backing up fails to gather Bopara's shy at the stumps. Panesar then has to abort a delivery after knocking his hat out of Asad Rauf's hand in his delivery stride. When he does manage to bowl, it's a good one that beats Jayawardene outside off stump. Two singles from the last two balls give the over an expensive look, but there were two potentially wicket-taking deliveries in the over so harsh to be critical.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 237-2: Sangakkara 62*, DPMD Jayawardene 38*

0555: Over 71 Sidebottom is at least doing the containing job for England, completing another maiden over. Jayawardene the man to play it out this time.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 232-2: Sangakkara 60*, DPMD Jayawardene 35*

0551: Over 70 Panesar gives Jayawardene another ball outside off stump to work away for an easy single. The last ball of the over from Panesar keeps low, and takes the bottom edge of Sangakkara's bat. Those of a harsher disposition would call it a chance for the keeper; it wasn't. The ball went almost straight down, and unless Prior had managed to flick the ball up with his boot and catch the rebound there was no way of getting the gloves to that one.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 232-2: Sangakkara 60*, DPMD Jayawardene 35*

0548: Vaughan's seen enough, and seeks refuge in the pavilion. Shah back on subbing duty, and presumably Collingwood in temporary charge.

0547: Over 69 Sidebottom bowls an over of wide tempters outside the off stump. Sangakkara resists.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 231-2: Sangakkara 60*, DPMD Jayawardene 34*

0542: Over 68 Panesar spins one past Jayawardene's outside edge and past Prior's gloves as well. Collingwood tidies up at slip. Panesar follows that good ball with a shocker; short, wide and put away to the point boundary by Sri Lanka's captain. So frustrating, as England's thoughts must now turn to how long they are going to have to bat to save this match. The longer they can keep Sri Lanka batting, the better. Easy four-balls are not what they need from their frontline spinner. Panesar has bowled just five maidens in this match from 34 overs; Murali bowled 14 from 35 in England's first innings.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 231-2: Sangakkara 60*, DPMD Jayawardene 34*

0539: Over 67 Jayawardene gets four. I can't even bother to tell you where it went or how it got there - I'm sure you can guess. Suffice to say, Sidebottom throws his hairyhead heavenwards in frustration. Jayawardene collects a single for a push to point before Sidebottom gets his line all wrong to Sangakkara, who gratefully flicks the ball off leg stump to the fine-leg boundary.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 227-2: Sangakkara 60*, DPMD Jayawardene 30*

0535: Over 66 Panesar still can't get a maiden - he's bowled only one in 19 overs this innings - as Sangakkara works the last ball of the over away for two runs after five dot balls. England need Panesar to strangle an end.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 218-2: Sangakkara 56*, DPMD Jayawardene 25*

0531: Right on cue, Vaughan unleashes the Montster.

0530: Over 65 Sidebottom bowls a tidy maiden over after the drinks break. Easily played by Jayawardene, though, and Monty surely cannot be far away.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 216-2: Sangakkara 54*, DPMD Jayawardene 25*

0526: Astonishing insight from Nick Knight on commentary, as conversation turns to the Elephant Sanctuary. Knight, it transpires, saw a couple of elephants as he returned to his hotel yesterday. "You just don't see that in England," Knight reveals.

0523: Drinks. Things starting to look very bleak for England. The seamers have bowled well enough, and on a different day both these batsmen would have been dismissed. But they haven't been, and there is less and less to encourage the quick bowlers here. But for a certain bowler on the opposition side, England would be confident of chasing down 400 on this surface; with Murali involved, they won't fancy chasing more than 200. The lead is already 123.

0523: Over 64 Jayawardene pushes to mid-on where a shocking misfield from Swann allows the batsmen to complete a couple of runs. Jayawardene gets a boundary for a slightly unconvincing pull shot to long-leg as Anderson, rather desperately, tries a bouncer in these unresponsive conditions. A single to gully takes the partnership to 50, and England need a wicket in the next few overs or this game is gone. Runs are flowing, Jayawardene seems to be protected from on high and Sangakkara might just be the best batsman in the world right now.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 216-2: Sangakkara 54*, DPMD Jayawardene 25*

0519: Over 63 Sangakkara is batting two feet outside his crease, and that keeps Sidebottom's lbw appeal muted as an in-ducker clatters into the knee-roll. Luck continues to flow exclusively in one direction as Sangakkara plays a rare false stroke and chops the ball millimetres wide of the leg stump and down to the boundary for four.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 209-2: Sangakkara 54*, DPMD Jayawardene 18*

0515: Over 62 Sangakkara moves to his sixth consecutive score of 50 or more in Tests with a single to the legside - the first Sri Lankan ever to do so. Jayawardene gets four more as yet another edge flies to the third-man boundary. They shouldn't count as four - it all seems desperately unfair on the bowler.

0511: Sangakkara 50: 88 balls, 7 x 4s

0510: Over 61 Sangakkara just gets the inside edge to an inswinger from Sidebottom, strangling what would have been a huge leg-before appeal from England. A thick outside edge to third-man takes Sri Lanka to 200 and Sangakkara to 49. Sidebottom beats Jayawardene with a good one that goes across the right-hander, and Sri Lanka's captain certainly looks less certain at the crease than his partner.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 200-2: Sangakkara 49*, DPMD Jayawardene 14*

0506: Ryan Sidebottom gets his first bowl of the day, replacing Hoggard.

0505: Over 60 An absolutely brilliant piece of work from Prior comes to nothing. Anderson gets one to jag backsharply at Jayawardene and cut the batsman in half before Prior flings himself full-length to his left to grab the ball one-handed an inch off the turf. England are convinced Jayawardene got something on it, but the only thing the ball seems to touch on its way through is the batsman's trousers. Good decision from Rauf, but full marks to Prior for forcing the umpire to make a decision. Maiden over from Anderson.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 199-2: Sangakkara 48*, DPMD Jayawardene 14*

0501: Over 59 Collingwood is back on the field for England, and Sangakkara is continuing on his merry way with a blistering boundary clipped superbly through midwicket as Hoggard overpitches again. Top-class shot, and worrying times for England.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 199-2: Sangakkara 48*, DPMD Jayawardene 14*

0456: Over 58 The batsmen each collect singles worked into the legside before Jayawardene enjoys a healthy dose of good fortune as Anderson squares the batsman up and finds the outside edge, but it drops short and wide of a diving Matt Prior and away for four. The lead over 100, and Jayawardene has now scored 5,000 Test runs batting at number four.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 195-2: Sangakkara 44*, DPMD Jayawardene 14*

0451: Over 57 Jayawardene gets off the mark with a classical drive through the covers as a Hoggard off-cutter is just thrown a touch too full. Couple of interesting fielding positions from Michael Vaughan this morning; there's a man in very close and very straight at mid-on, around 15 yards from the bat looking for a thick inside edge from one of those cutters. There's another man in on the drive at cover, a slip and a gully. So the line required should be clear. Hoggard instead angles one into the pads which Jayawardene clips away to the fine-leg boundary for four more. Hoggard furious, but comes back well to end the over with a much better delivery that Jayawardene almost chops into the stumps. It misses, and Jayawardene gets a single to keep the strike.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 189-2: Sangakkara 43*, DPMD Jayawardene 9*

0447: Collingwood leaves the field at the end of that over from Anderson, presumably for treatment on that knee he tweaked trying to catch the very first ball of the day. He's jogged off, so it doesn't appear too serious. Owais Shah joins Graeme Swann on sub fielder duty.

0447: Over 56 Sangakkara gets his second boundary of the morning, but it's a second unconvincing one. This time it's a genuine edge that flies at catchable height through where third slip would be standing. Sangakkara adds a far more convincing four a few balls later, crashing a short ball through backward-point. Sangakkara is clearly the man looking to be aggressive this morning, and he's propelled the lead to 87.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 180-2: Sangakkara 43*, DPMD Jayawardene 0*

0443: Over 55 Maiden over from Hoggard this time, chucking in a couple of those useful off-cutters.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 172-2: Sangakkara 35*, DPMD Jayawardene 0*

0440: Some interesting comments from Sangakkara overnight. Always a cricketer worth listening to, especially where this ground is concerned seeing as he's played here since his schooldays. He says the pitch will get lower and slower, making things difficult for all the bowlers. Except, of course, Murali. The pitch doesn't really matter to him. Asjed how many wickets Murali will take in the series, Sangakkara's response was swift and precise: thirty-six. Or 12 a game, which would be some feat. Whether that's Sangakkara showing complete faith in the master spinner or complete disdain for Sri Lanka's other bowlers is unclear.

0439: Over 54 Good first over from Anderson, operating on a good line just outside Sangakkara's off stump. Just a hint of reverse swing as well if my eyes aren't deceiving me at this early hour. It's a maiden, but the umpire Asad Rauf is again very interested in Anderson's followthrough. Anderson did get an official warning yesterday, remember.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 172-2: Sangakkara 35*, DPMD Jayawardene 0*

0435: England's physio is out on the field between overs to tend to Collingwood. Looks like the knee that's giving him problems. Meanwhile, it's James Anderson to bowl the second over of the day.

0435: Over 53 Not the best start from anyone, as Sangakkara edges a short, wide one from Hoggard to the third-man boundary. To make matters worse for England, Collingwood's foot gets stuck in the turf as he dives for the ball, and his knee and ankle twist alarmingly. He stays down for a while, but he's eventually gingerly back to his feet. Doesn't look too clever though. Sangakkara scampers a well-judged quick single next ball, and Jayawardene plays out the over defensively.
Sri Lanka 2nd Inns, 172-2: Sangakkara 35*, DPMD Jayawardene 0*

0430: The players are out for the early start as we continue to make up time from the rain-shortened second day. Matthew Hoggard to bowl the first over.

0420: With the record-breaking business put to bed, attention returns to the Test match itself. And there's a cracking game in prospect.
Sri Lanka have built a handy lead, but far from a matchwinning one at this stage. England must take early wickets to slow the run-rate and put the pressure back on the hosts.
Early wickets also critical because Sri Lanka have their best two batsmen at the crease. Any lead over 200 will leave Sri Lanka clear favourites for victory but, with a weak tail, that sort of lead is far from certain.