England easily save Colombo Test

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- England comfortably saved the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Thursday with rain bringing play to a premature end at tea on the final day.

By then, England had reached 250 for three wickets -- a lead of 53 runs -- after significant contributions from all their top order batsmen.

Captain Michael Vaughan followed his first innings 87 with a stylish 61, ended by a caught and bowled to Dilhara Fernando, as he and fellow opener Alastair Cook shared a century stand.

Their efforts meant England - who resumed on 48 without loss - were in credit in mid-afternoon. Vaughan scored regular boundaries off Lasith Malinga in the early sparring and reached his half century off just 81 deliveries.

After he departed, Cook and Ian Bell continued the steady progress and the former brought up his half century shortly after a 20-minute stoppage for rain at the SSC.

It was the very occasional leg-spinner Chamara Silva who gained the second breakthrough to the first ball of the afternoon session when Cook lurched forward and the ball spun out of the rough to take the edge.

Even then Bell and Kevin Pietersen progressed at a decent rate to get their side into the lead.

Twenty-five-year-old Bell backed to the leg-side to regularly cut Murali off his stumps and twice hammered Silva for pulled fours in registering his third 50 of the series. But an indiscreet shot moments later against Murali gave the Sri Lankans hope as he picked out the lanky Michael Vandort at long-on.

However, Pietersen reached the second interval unbeaten on 45, including a savage pulled six off Silva, and Paul Collingwood was 23 not out as dark clouds and then rain ended the match early.

Sri Lanka will take a 1-0 series lead to the third and final Test in Galle next week where England skipper Vaughan is looking for them to tie it up.

"We are still 1-0 down but we feel we have a lot to fight and play for in Galle, to win that one and go home with a series draw," he said.

"I hope there will be a little bit more bounce for both sides there," a reference to the docile pitch in Colombo. E-mail to a friend