Kaluwitharana was joined by Marvan Atapattu and this pair were going along nicely, unphased by the asking rate that they knew was well within the range of this batting line-up. However, when the total was nine runs short of the hundred, Atapattu drove Andrew Flintoff towards mid-off where Ronnie Irani went low to his left to hold a very good two-handed catch.

England were ringing the changes with their attack in an effort to prevent the batsmen settling against a particular bowler. But Kaluwitharana went serenely to his fifty from 61 balls with a six and five fours, and found a willing partner in Mahela Jayawardene so that, by the halfway point in their innings, Sri Lanka had 134 for two whereas England's total at the same stage was 129 for four. With the lights on, a close finish looked to be in prospect.

Stewart reached his fifty from 67 balls with five fours, while Irani, perhaps conscious of the criticism surrounding his selection, played with extreme caution in that he only reached the boundary once in his innings. He was a little unfortunate in that, having restrained his natural tendencies for so long, he eventually allowed himself to have a go at the bowling of Russel Arnold. He lifted a ball out towards deep mid-wicket where Mahela Jayawardene was able to take the catch and balance within the boundary. The batsman was visibly annoyed with himself for falling in that manner after such hard work.

The arrival of Andrew Flintoff galvanised Stewart into playing more expansive strokes, while Flintoff was at his bullying best. He simply savaged the bowling as he brought up his fifty from 28 balls with five fours and two enormous sixes. It was hitting of the highest calibre and exactly what was required in the circumstances. It was impossible not to feel sympathy for the bowlers who had to deliver up the balls for him to hit.

Stewart made room to be bowled in the final over after an innings of immense value to his side. Paul Collingwood came in to strike a four, two and four from the three balls he faced and England would have been very satisfied in the eventual total of 293 for five.

Marcus Trescothick and Nick Knight started brightly enough, with the scoring rate exceeding six an over. They were not alone, however, in getting set and then getting out.

Knight was first to go, falling lbw to Nuwan Zoysa after an enterprising innings of 20 from just 18 balls. It was a good ball that undid him, whereas Trescothick's shot was one that should only be seen in this form of the game, and then preferably when there are 300 on the board. Trying to drive straight, he did not hit straight through the line and the leading edge sent the ball over the covers where Kumar Sangakkara ran backwards to take a superb catch coming down over his head as he ran towards the boundary.

Nasser Hussain and Graham Thorpe shared an enterprising half-century partnership, Thorpe greeting Dilhara Fernando into the attack with some rasping off-side strokes. They appeared untroubled until Hussain was beaten by some movement away from the bat as he stretched forward for the ball to just clip the top of off stump and, three balls later, Thorpe dragged a very wide ball down onto his wicket.

It was left to Alec Stewart and Ronnie Irani to try to rebuild the innings against a keen attack that was backed by some exciting fielding. After 25 overs, England were 129 for four.

Sri Lanka included left-arm seamer Nuwan Zoysa ahead of Buddika Fernando, while left-handed batsman Naveed Nawaz was recalled four years after making his debut. Veteran wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana is expected to open with captain Sanath Jayasuriya while Kumar Sangakkara, who kept wicket in the Test series, plays as a batsman.

England: ME Trescothick, NV Knight, *N Hussain, GP Thorpe, RC Irani, +AJ Stewart, A Flintoff, PD Collingwood, AF Giles, RJ Kirtley, MJ Hoggard.

Sri Lanka: *ST Jayasuriya, +RS Kaluwitharana, MS Atapattu, DPMD Jayawardene, RP Arnold, MN Nawaz, KC Sangakkara, WPUJC Vaas, CRD Fernando, DNT Zoysa, UDU Chandana.