Cricket: Two wickets for Swann as England push for victory

Swann accounted for Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara - the former departing after another DRS controversy - to leave the home side 139 for four at tea.

That left England 46 ahead, with Mahela Jayawardene (20no) again shaping up to be Sri Lanka’s mainstay.

England, who had time for just one over last night, had hoped to knock nightwatchman Dhammika Prasad over early today but he quickly became a bigger problem than regular opener Lahiru Thirimanne.

Prasad stroked James Anderson past mid-off for four in the second over to show he would be no easy touch and scored quickly as he attacked from the off.

Swann came on after six overs and soon had Thirimanne in strife. Matt Prior missed a simple stumping but it did not cost England as the opener guided Anderson to slip for 11.

Dilshan arrived next and immediately went into defensive mode - a rarely seen function for the all-rounder.

Prasad continued to ride his luck, edging Swann just past Prior for four and then being dropped badly by Steven Finn two balls later.

His frustrating cameo was finally ended on 34 when he lifted a Finn bouncer down Tim Bresnan’s throat at fine leg.

New man Sangakkara came into this series ranked as the the world’s best Test batsman but managed just 14 runs in his first three innings.

He had added just one to that when Finn drew a low outside edge that squirmed beyond second slip for four.

At lunch, the deficit was down to 101, with the crown jewels of the Sri Lanka batting line-up either at the crease, or - in the case of Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera - just around the corner.

Sangakkara, though, was far from his best - prodding and fending at Anderson at the start of the second session, but surviving.

Samit Patel was getting good turn but lost his length as he gave Sri Lanka 12 runs in two overs to chip away at the lead.

Swann was called on to replace the slow left-armer and struck with his first ball.

He turned one in to Dilshan’s bat and pad and appealed as soon as Anderson accepted a looping catch at slip.

Umpire Bruce Oxenford upheld the shout but Dilshan immediately called for DRS.

There was no conclusive proof either way, meaning the dismissal was upheld to Dilshan’s clear chagrin.

The referral system was in use again three balls later when Oxenford rejected a big lbw appeal from Swann against Sangakkara.

This time technology frustrated England, reprieving the batsman by the smallest of margins.

But there was no doubt when Prior gathered a thin edge off Swann to send Sangakkara back for 21 and leave the hosts 125 for four.

Samaraweera was next in, entering with spin at both ends, men around the bat and England still 60 ahead.

By the break he had 11no as he and Jayawardene dug in for the fifth wicket.