• Sri Lanka 591 - take 146 run lead
  Murali's spin troubles England again - 54/2

Sri Lanka 591 - take 146 run lead
Murali's spin troubles England again - 54/2

LONDON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - England have their backs to the wall in the one-off test against Sri Lanka after off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan snapped up two quick second innings wickets to bring his match haul to nine at The Oval on Sunday.

England, 146 behind on first innings, were 54 for two at the close on the fourth day after Muralitharan dismissed Mark Butcher (15) and first-day century-maker Graeme Hick (0) with the total on 25.

Muralitharan has taken two for 16 to add to his first innings of seven for 155, his second best figures in tests.

The spinner also played a key role with the bat earlier in the day, hitting 30 in a last wicket stand of 59 with Suresh Perera that lifted Sri Lanka from 532 for nine to 591 all out, their highest in tests against England.

Pace bowler Perera struck an unbeaten 43 in his first innings in test cricket. Sri Lanka last wicket pair Suresh Perera and Muttiah Muralitharan piled on the agony for England with a swashbuckling stand of 59 on the fourth day of the one-off test at The Oval on Sunday. Perera stroked an unbeaten 43 in his first innings in test cricket and Muralitharan struck 30 as they boosted their side from 532 for nine to 591 all out in reply to England's 445. England openers Mark Butcher and Steve James took their side safely through seven overs to tea at 13 without loss.

LONDON, 30 AUG - Sri Lankan batsman Aravinda De Silva (R) collides with England bowler Dominic Cork during the fourth day's play of their Test. Sri Lanka ended the fourth day 146 runs ahead of an England first innings total of 445. (Reuters)

Up to the moment pace bowler Perera and off-spinner Muralitharan joined forces, England had gained a measure of respite from Sri Lanka's run spree by taking six wickets for 86 after the touring side resumed at their overnight 446 for three.

However, on a pitch more akin to Colombo than Kennington, Perera and Muralitharan embarked an on entertaining partnership that gave the touring team an unexpected but useful late boost.

Perera showed composure and spirit, as well as a number of fine strokes including a handsome six over long-on off Angus Fraser, as he made his runs from 77 deliveries.

The 10th wicket pair completed their half-century stand off 60 deliveries. It was finally broken by Ian Salisbury's first test wicket of the season.

Leg-spinner Salisbury, who took 0-106 in the last two tests against South Africa, had Muralitharan caught behind by Alec Stewart as he tried to cut a ball outside off stump.

Darren Gough provided the initial lift by dispatching Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga (51) and Hashan Tillekeratne with consecutive deliveries in the third over of the morning.

Ranatunga added only one to his overnight score before he was lbw playing round a half volley from Gough whose next ball trapped Tillekeratne leg before.

Romesh Kaluwitharana produced several dashing strokes before falling to Dominic Cork, and Ben Hollioake had Aravinda de Silva caught behind off a thin outside edge, ending the Sri Lankan vice-captain's patient but cultured innings of 152. He batted 462 minutes, faced 292 balls and hit 17 fours.

Fraser removed Kumara Dharmasena and Pramodya Wickremasinghe in quick succession after lunch.

SCOREBOARD

England first innings 445 (J.Crawley 156 not out, G.Hick 107, M.Ramprakash 53; M.Muralitharan 7-155)

Sri Lanka first innings (overnight 446-3)

S.Jayasuriya c Stewart b Hollioake 213
M.Atapattu lbw b Cork 15
M.Jayawardene c Hollioake b Fraser 9
A.de Silva c Stewart b Hollioake 152
A.Ranatunga lbw b Gough 51
H.Tillekeratne lbw b Gough 0
R.Kaluwitharana c Crawley b Cork 25
K.Dharmasena lbw b Fraser 13
S.Perera not out 43
P.Wickremasinghe b Fraser 0
M.Muralitharan c Stewart b Salisbury 30

Extras (b-15 lb-20 w-1 nb-4) 40
Total 591

Fall of wickets: 1-53 2-85 3-328 4-450 5-450 6-488 7-504 8-526 9-532

Bowling: Gough 30-5-102-2, Fraser 23-3-95-3, Hollioake 26-2-105-2, Cork 36-5-128-2, Salisbury 25.5-7-86-1, Ramprakash 5-0-24-0, Butcher 11-2-16-0

England second innings

M.Butcher st Kaluwitharana b Muralitharan 15
S.James not out 20
G.Hick lbw b Muralitharan 0
A.Stewart not out 15

Extras (b-2 nb-2) 4
Total (for two wickets) 54

Fall of wickets: 1-25 2-25

Bowling (to date): Wickremasinghe 3-0-9-0, Perera 5-1-9-0, Muralitharan 18-9-16-2, Dharmasena 9-5-6-0, Jayasuriya 4-1-5-0,
de Silva 3-0-7-0