2.39pm Sri Lanka 162 and 272 (Jayawardene 59, Atapattu 56, Hoggard 5-92) lost to England 545 by an innings and 111 runs
scorecard

There was a surreal atmosphere at Edgbaston. England were in command of the match, the sun was beating down and the English Cricket Board were offering half-price admission; all three factors were rare enough to expect there to be a spring in the step of the crowd. But the stands were barely a quarter full, those that were present were subdued and there was the feeling that there was a party going on somewhere else. Such is the lure of football.

Perhaps the England players' minds were also elsewhere, for after a bright start they rather went to sleep until lunch. Maybe they then realised that the poor showing of the football side gave them a heaven-sent opportunity to make the headlines, because after the break they were a different team. They grabbed five wickets in an hour, wrapping up a comprehensive win inside four days and banishing the nightmare of the Lord's Test into the distant memory.

England had been frustrated by Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene on Saturday evening and needed an early breakthrough to regain the initiative. Matthew Hoggard provided it in the fourth over of the day, removing the obdurate Atapattu for 56 (135 for 3). Atapattu was caught in two minds, and the indecisiveness of his half-hearted forward movement was coupled with a late decision to try and leave the ball: in the end all he succeeded in doing was to deflect the ball into his off stump.

Sri Lanka's resistance was further eroded on 40 minutes when Andy Caddick had Mahela Jayawardene caught at first slip for 59 (156 for 4). The delivery was just short of a length and left Jayawardene off the seam; his tentative prod was well taken low down by Graham Thorpe. It was strikingly similar to the way Jayawardene had been dismissed in the first innings.

But England were unable to press home the advantage as Aravinda de Silva and Hashan Tillekeratne, batting with a blend of aggressiveness and defiance, ensured that there were no further hiccups for Sri Lanka. At lunch England were aware that they needed wickets if the poor weather forecast were not to come into play.

But the interval and the new ball combined to open the floodgates as four wickets fell in a 19-ball spell. Whatever Andy Caddick and matthew Hoggard had eaten for lunch, Nasser Hussain should ensure that all his bowlers are force-fed the same from now on. Firstly Caddick bowled a full-length inswinging ball which Tillekeratne played all round, losing his middle stump. He had scored 39 (233 for 5). With the first ball of his next over Caddick removed Sri Lanka's last hope of salvation, Aravinda de Silva, for 47 (238 for 6). The ball was just short of a length, it seamed away from the batsman who could only angle it straight to Graham Thorpe at first slip.

Not to be outdone, Hoggard grabbed his fourth and fifth wickets in the same over as Sri Lanka opted to go down with all guns blazing rather than try to hang around. Russel Arnold drove a wide delivery from Hoggard straight down the ground for four, then tried to repeat the shot but the ball was shorter and he only succeeded in lobbing it to Ashley Giles at mid-off (247 for 7). Hoggard's second ball to Charitha Buddika was arrow-straight, Buddika played a confident defensive prod but unfortunately down the wrong line and he lost his off stump (247 for 8).

Chaminda Vaas briefly entertained the crowd with some spirited slogging, carving Hoggard over square-leg for a massive six and then smacking him straight down the ground for four. Hoggard gave a wry smile, knowing that his efforts with the bat and the ball had already sealed England's win.

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