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Before the start of play there was a Perehena (traditional procession) with four festooned elephants, led by a whip-cracking Kasacarya and trailed by gyrating Kandyan dancers. They willed the Gods to look kindly on their cricketers and conjure up a miraculous recovery. The heavens appeared to be listening too because seven hours later both sides still have realistic hopes of winning this game – Sri Lanka need six wickets and England require 70 runs.

Sri Lanka, starting the day just eight runs ahead with four wickets remaining, frustrated England as they added a further 152 runs to leave a potentially tricky last innings target of 160. When Chaminda Vaas then teased out Atherton for the fourth time in four innings and then trapped Trescothick lbw four balls later with just 25 runs on the board, the Elephants would have believed their early morning amble to have been worthwhile.

Atherton - wicket to Vaas again Photo CricInfo

Graham Thorpe though has shown himself over the years to be a man for the moment. In fading light in Karachi three-months ago he pushed and nudged England to a dramatic series victory. This evening he adopted a more forthright approach and pointedly attacked Muttiah Muralitharan from the start, hitting him for 20 runs in his first two overs.

The Surrey batsmen added 61 precious runs with a limping Nasser Hussain, a partnership that looked to be guiding England towards a memorable victory. Twenty minutes before the close, however, Muralitharan wreaked his revenge as he was well caught by Sangakkara for 46. Vaas then found the outside edge of the England captain and the game was back in the balance at 89 for four.

England still have their noses ahead, but as Dav Whatmore said tonight it will come down to who holds their nerve: "I was really pleased to see some of the old Sri Lankan fight with the bat today. It's very close now and there is going to be a lot of pressure tomorrow. I think it will come down to which team holds their head."

Sri Lanka are still in with a chance because of a player who is a recurrent visitor to the match referee's room. Sangakkara was in the dock again today after his unsightly, though essentially childish, spat with Michael Atherton. Both players received a severe reprimand.

Today though he will be better remembered for an innings of silky class. This is just his eighth Test match, but he revels under pressure and has proven himself to be no shirker. With Sri Lanka effectively eight for six, he could well have felt their fate inevitable and succumbed lamely. He didn't. He revealed his inner strength, carefully selecting which ball to punish and which to be respected.

Stewart stumps Sangakkara Photo CricInfo

With Kumar Dharmasena giving him stoic support he survived until, on the brink of lunch and five runs away from a maiden Test century, his mind went blank and he impetuously charged Robert Croft. The ball spun past his outside edge and he was stumped by yards. England were jubilant - 30 more minutes of the wristy left-hander and they would have been faced a formidable target.

"We looked to occupy the crease this morning, but were determined to hit the loose balls," he said afterwards. "I was distraught to get out when I did. I don't know what came over me. I knew that lunch was just around the corner, but I just lost my concentration and played a very poor shot.

"I think it is balanced evenly, although perhaps a bit over to the English side. But, if we take a couple of wickets tomorrow morning that will definitely change." He was impressed with the innings of Thorpe: "He was willing to take the bowlers on and was always going score runs quickly. We were very happy to see the back of him."

Kumar Dharmasena also played his part, scoring his third half-century in Test Match cricket, as did Chaminda Vaas who made 36.

Once again it was Darren Gough who proved the key bowler. England took the new ball in the 80th over and in the 87th he caught the shoulder of Dharmasena's bat. Graeme Hick leapt at second slip to take the catch one-handed. In his next over he grabbed Nuwan Zoysa's wicket too, also caught by Hick at second slip.

Craig White wrapped up the innings as Vaas tried to blast him through the off side and was caught by Croft in the covers.

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