Sri Lanka have taken a firm grip on the second One-Day International against England at Premadasa International Stadium. After a workmanlike batting performance they have taken three England wickets in the first 25 overs. England are 81 for three after 25 overs.

England could have been in even greater trouble if Sri Lanka had not dropped three chances: Marcus Trescothick at second slip in the second over, Andrew Flintoff at mid-off in the seventh over, and Alec Stewart by Romesh Kaluwitharana behind the stumps in the ninth over.

The first two dropped catches – neither of which were easy – did not prove expensive. Marcus Trescothick only added five more before he charged Nuwan Zoysa and top-edged a simple catch to Kaluwitharana. Flintoff added only eight runs before he was brilliantly caught by Muttiah Muralitharan for 10. Muralitharan failed to grasp the ball at the first attempt, but then swivelled and plucked the ball out of the air, inches above the ground.

England were 35 for two off 10.3 overs and the partisan crowd launched into a well co-ordinated "Mexican wave". Had Stewart and Flintoff not smashed 15 off Zoysa's fifth over, they could have fallen well behind the required rate.

Since then the fast bowlers have been replaced. Chaminda Vaas was the pick of the two left arm fast bowlers, conceding just 12 runs from his seven overs. Dharmasena bowled one over before being replaced by the captain, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Muralitharan started his spell from the Khettarama End.

It was the captain though, bowling with a heavily strapped knee, whom dismissed Graeme Hick to end a 28-run partnership for the third wicket. Hick tried to use his feet and was stumped by Kaluwitharana for 11.

Since then Alec Stewart and Graham Thorpe have added 18 runs. Stewart is unbeaten on 38. Sri Lanka, at the same point in their innings, were 88 for two.

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