Although the pitch has crumbled and a hobbling Muttiah Muralitharan is turning the ball square, wickets remain an elusive commodity in the First Test Match in Galle. England lost only four wickets on the third day as an unbeaten maiden Test century by Marcus Trescothick enhanced his team's chances of saving this crucial game.

An excruciatingly slow pitch made the cricket painstaking at times and many English supporters filtered away early, for a refreshing afternoon dip in the Indian Ocean. England scored just 175 runs in 98 overs to finish the day on 202 for four.

England won't lose sleep over their slow scoring, but they will take great delight in the manner in which they were able to keep Sri Lanka's spinners at bay, even if Muralitharan was not at his best today. England now need just 69 runs to avoid the follow on.

Not so long ago Marcus Trescothick was lounging in the Somerset Second XI. Now he is rapidly becoming England's best discovery for years.

He came into the side during the One-Day International series last summer, made 79 runs on his debut and soon forced his way into the Test team. Before today he had scored three Test half-centuries, but had failed to score the century he craved.

"It was nice to get the first one out of the way. I did feel nervous in the nineties and I have been working hard on getting a hundred for England. To get it in a different part of the world, on wickets that I am not particularly used to, is really pleasing," he said.

He has every right to be pleased too for this was an epic display of skill, concentration and fitness. He has now been on the field of play for three continuous days and admitted that he needed to drink 15 litres of water today to stave off dehydration. He said he tired towards the close, but was forced to concentrate by Muralitharan, who he described as "one hell of a bowler".

The Sri Lankans, however, were also impressed. Although he was nearly caught and bowled when he had made just 19, he looked astonishingly comfortable against the magical off spinner and received generous applause from the home side when he squirted him into the off side for his hundred.

In Pakistan Trescothick used his feet to the spinners, but in Galle he was scared stiff of leaving the crease: "It turns much more in Sri Lanka and with Muralitharan having a mystery ball, which is difficult to pick, it is very difficult to use your feet." Nevertheless, he drove powerfully through extra cover when Muralitharan over-pitched and used the slog sweep liberally against Sri Lanka's lesser spinners.

He admitted afterwards: "I haven't been the greatest player of spin in the past, but I am improving all the time and have been working hard on my technique. My method is starting to work."

Trescothick and Michael Atherton gave England a dream start with an 83-run opening partnership. Sri Lanka had a frustrating morning. Atherton was close to lbw when on 19, he was dropped at silly point on 28 and Muralitharan dropped a caught and bowled chance off Trescothick.

Three balls after lunch, though, Chaminda Vaas trapped Atherton lbw for 33 with a delivery that swung into the right hander. Nasser Hussain mustered only three runs as he was pinned to his stumps by a vicious off spinner from Muralitharan. Graham Thorpe made seven from 37 balls before he was snapped up at second slip via boot and bat to leave England precariously placed on 117 for three.

Alec Stewart, however, gave Trescothick dogged support and the pair added 80 runs for the fourth wicket, only 19 of which were made by the sticky Stewart. Thirty minutes before the close his innings was cruelly cut short when he was adjudged lbw as he tried to pull a delivery from Jayasuriya that appeared to pitch inches outside leg stump. Robert Croft then came in as a nightwatchman and survived to the close without alarm.

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