Sangakkara leads Sri Lanka fightback

KANDY, Sri Lanka - Kumar Sangakarra scored 86 not out as Sri Lanka reached 180 for 7 at tea on the first day of the first test against England on Saturday.

Sangakkara rescued a Sri Lanka innings that was in dire straits after pace bowler Matthew Hoggard inspired a dramatic morning collapse, reducing the hosts to a disastrous 42 for 5.

Sangakkara's skilful innings spanned 135 deliveries and included 12 boundaries.

Wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene provided solid support, batting positively for his 51 from 102 balls with nine boundaries.

The pair added 102 runs in 30.1 overs either side of the lunch break before left-arm spinner Monty Panesar snared Jayawardene at short leg.

Earlier, Sri Lanka batted first after winning the toss on a dry pitch under clear blue skies, conditions that appeared to be ideal for batting at the time.

But Hoggard produced a superb 10-over spell with the new ball, claiming 4-21 after maintaining a tight line and finding some early swing.

BRILLIANTLY CAUGHT

Sanath Jayasuriya (10) started the innings positively with a brace of boundaries before being brilliantly caught by Kevin Peitersen at cover point off left-arm Ryan Sidebottom.

Opener Michael Vandort (eight) mistimed a checked drive and chipped a simple catch to Michael Vaughan at mid on.

Straight after the first drinks break of the day the wickets started to tumble fast as Hoggard dismissed skipper Mahela Jayawardene (one) with a perfectly-pitched outswinger.

Chamara Silva (two) fell to a similar swinging delivery, pushing forward and edging behind to wicket-keeper Matthew Prior.

Five balls later, Hoggard managed to seam the ball in the opposite direction and found another outside edge, this time off left-hander Jehan Mubarak, who departed for a duck on his recall to the test team.

England waited over two hours for the next wicket as the pitch flattened and the fast bowlers stopped swinging the ball.

However, Panesar extracted extravagant spin, especially from the bowler's foot holes, to put the pressure back on Sri Lanka's batsmen.

Jayawardene clipped a catch straight to Alastair Cook and on the stroke of tea Chaminda Vaas was bowled as he tried to force a delivery that spun sharply off the back foot.

England had earlier preferred all rounder Ravi Bopara to middle order batsman Owais Shah and picked fast bowler James Anderson ahead of Steve Harmison.