England force Sri Lanka to follow on

Matthew Hoggard and Alex Tudor responded superbly in the absence of injured fellow paceman Andy Caddick as England forced Sri Lanka to follow on 259 behind in the third and final test on Sunday.

Sri Lanka were dismissed for 253, with Hoggard capturing three for 38 and Tudor taking four for 65, after Caddick was ruled out for the rest of the match at Old Trafford with a strained left side.

When the Lankans batted again, Hoggard continued to torment them by bowling captain Sanath Jayasuriya for 26. Sri Lanka were 63 for one when bad light forced an early close on the fourth day, resulting in the loss of 34 overs.

England, who made 512, have been given the chance to secure their second successive victory by an innings in the series in which they lead 1-0.

By contrast, Sri Lanka's problems have been compounded because injured opener Marvan Atapattu is not able to bat, having retired hurt for 10 on the third day after being struck on the right hand by a delivery from Andrew Flintoff.

Earlier, when the touring side resumed at the overnight 130 for one, England soon began making inroads as Hoggard and Tudor led the attack with relish.

Mahela Jayawardene, who had been missed on 15 by Ashley Giles at deep square leg off Tudor, added just two more before he tried to pull the same bowler but succeeded only in giving him a return catch from a skied drive.

Kumar Sangakkara went shortly afterwards for 40, driving vigorously at Hoggard and edging to Graham Thorpe at first slip.

All-rounder Flintoff then had a hand in the next two wickets either side of lunch.

Firstly, he produced a short pitched delivery that Aravinda de Silva, on 18, tried in vain to keep down but instead gave Nasser Hussain a tumbling catch at leg slip.

Flintoff then held a catch at deep mid-wicket to remove Hashan Tillekeratne (20) as he swept the left-arm spin of Giles.

England took the second new ball with Sri Lanka at 221 for five (in the first innings).

• Scorecard

Mail Cricket Editor