Sri Lanka hit back after Atapattu injury

Sri Lanka fought back with a century opening stand against England after Marvan Atapattu retired hurt in an eventful climax to the third day of the third and final Test at the Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday.

The tourists were 130 for one at the close in reply to England's first innings score of 512, but with only two days remaining their chances of preventing Nasser Hussain's men from clinching the series, which they lead 1-0, are remote.

Opener Atapattu went off for an X-ray to his right index finger after being hit by a delivery from fast-bowling all-rounder Andrew Flintoff with the total on 48.

But Russel Arnold struck 62 from 77 balls to lift his side to 107 before the first wicket fell.

Alex Tudor made the breakthrough when left-hander Arnold, who struck 11 fours, got a top edge as he hooked and was caught by Michael Vaughan at long leg.

England also suffered an injury blow when pace bowler Andy Caddick strained his side after bowling three deliveries of his sixth over and had to leave the field. His fitness will be assessed on Sunday morning.

Alec Stewart stole the spotlight earlier by hitting four fours off consecutive balls to complete a stylish century. Stewart raced from 86 to 102 with two pulls, a square cut and a straight drive off fast bowler Dilhara Fernando. He went on to make 123 from 190 deliveries, hitting 17 fours.

Stewart held centre stage after resuming on 57 in England's overnight 377-6. He carried the attack to the bowlers from the outset on a ground where he clearly enjoys batting. Three of his last five Test hundreds have been at the Old Trafford.

Cutting, driving and pulling handsomely, Stewart piled on the agony for the dispirited touring team, first in a stand of 39 with Alex Tudor and then by adding 102 with Ashley Giles, an England record for the eighth wicket against Sri Lanka.

Tudor edged to second slip after making 19, giving left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas his 200th wicket in his 62nd test. It was a rare moment of joy in the series for Vaas, who had taken just two wickets in the first two Tests at a cost of 305 runs.

But with Giles proving a staunch ally and making his highest Test score of 45, Stewart surged to three figures from 146 deliveries. It was his 15th hundred in his 118th test.

But with the country in the grip of the soccer World Cup, a majority of the crowd missed the landmark because they were watching England beat Denmark 3-0 in a match televised on a giant screen in one of the Old Trafford car parks.

• Scorecard

Mail Cricket Editor