England chip away at top order

Tea Sri Lanka 275 and 139 for 4 (Dilshan 35, Swann 2-55) trail England 460 by 46 runs
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	James Anderson had this appeal turned down but did remove Lahiru Thirimanne © AFP Enlarge
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It was a Poya Day in Sri Lanka and a rudimentary sign at the P Sara Stadium told England supporters the awful truth: no alcohol would be served. They have watched England lose Test matches in Asia all winter and the moment they feel that a celebration might be on hand they might have to do it stone-cold sober. Still, it would be good for the soul, never mind the body shape.

Perhaps an England victory will be delayed until the final day when normal behaviour can be resumed, but Sri Lanka still trailed by 46 runs at tea with six wickets left and it would take quite a recovery to wriggle out of this one. With memories still fresh of England's collapse to 72 all out against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, in pursuit of 145, nothing was certain.

Sri Lanka were aggrieved about the dismissal of Tillakaratne Dilshan, who fell to the offspin of Graeme Swann for 35 in controversial circumstances. There have been too many times this winter when match reports turn into a treatise on the DRS and this one is no different because the philosophy behind it is still not comprehended by many, some of whom should know better.

Swann appealed as Dilshan pushed forward to a ball that turned and the ball squeezed off pad, and perhaps a sliver of an inside edge, to James Anderson at slip. The Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford gave it out and Dilshan, without as much as a glance at his batting partner Kumar Sangakkara, called for a review. After innumerable replays, Rod Tucker, the third umpire, found no conclusive evidence to overturn the decision. As Hot Spot is not being used in this series, he would have needed clear daylight between the bat and outside edge to be confident there had been no edge.

Graham Ford, Sri Lanka's coach, marched into the match referee's room to demand an explanation, following a route trod by his England counterpart, Andy Flower, earlier in the Test. There has been so much to-ing and fro-ing that match referee's rooms will soon need to come with steel doors and double locks. As for Dilshan, he studied replays on his laptop with a sense of injustice.

An explanation should not have been necessary. DRS exists to overturn obvious umpiring mistakes, not to seek justification for an umpiring decision. If there is no proof that the decision of an on-field umpire should be overturned then the status quo remains and the umpire's decision stands. If there was an error - and the hint of a red mark on Dilshan's inside edge insisted that nothing was certain - the error was that of the on-field umpire and DRS merely upheld the status quo. It is really quite simple. But this basic philosophy is rarely accepted by those whose loyalties run deep.

England lost a review when DRS upheld Oxenford's rejection of an lbw appeal by Swann against Sangakkara, but Swann got his man with a sharply turning delivery that was edged to Andrew Strauss at first slip. It was a careworn afternoon session for Sri Lanka, who cut the deficit by only 55 runs.

England picked up the wickets of Dhammika Prasad, the nightwatchman, and Lahiru Thirimanne in the morning session. Prasad's presence at the crease did not please the purists who like their opening batsman to don the pads without fear or favour. A recourse to a nightwatchman for an opening batsman is unusual , although not unknown. Sri Lanka have taken the option before when Rangana Herath opening against Pakistan in Galle three years ago under Kumar Sangakkara's captaincy. A draining climate makes it perfectly understandable.

Dilshan had had a taxing third day in the field, bowling 20 overs and becoming embroiled in a psychological stand-off with Kevin Pietersen over his contentious use of the switch hit. He had an allrounder's right to a bit of protection, but having drawn attention to himself in more ways than one he received a predictable amount of chirruping from England's fielders.

At one stage the umpire Asad Rauf told the England captain, Andrew Strauss, that enough was enough. With England's fielders also causing irritation by strolling across the crease with faux innocence so often that it resembled Oxford Street at rush hour, there was plenty of bite in the morning.

Swann's offspin held most threat for England on a wearing pitch with occasional deliveries rearing and turning, but he was the only specialist spinner and Strauss chose to delay his entrance until nearly midway through the session in anticipation of a long and tiring day. When he did appear, he bowled with no luck.

The two early wickets fell to the quicker bowlers. James Anderson has the measure of Thirimanne and he slanted a ball across the left-hander in the ninth over for Strauss to hold the catch at first slip. Matt Prior, who had missed a routine stumping off Swann in the previous over, was mightily relieved. Prasad acquitted himself well, surviving past drinks. He was dropped off Swann by the sprawling Steven Finn at mid off and reached 34 before Finn set him up for a short ball which he pulled obligingly to Tim Bresnan at deep backward square. 

source:espncricinfo