Butcher gives England early control

CRICKET/Test: Mark Butcher guided England into a commanding position in the final Test against Sri Lanka yesterday.

Butcher finished unbeaten on 85 during a rain-affected opening day at Old Trafford to leave him just 15 away from recording his second century in the last three Test innings as England reached 273 for four.

Butcher was given an early opportunity at the crease by Michael Vaughan's dismissal in the 15th over of the day, chipping fast bowler Dilhara Fernando straight to mid-off after being deceived by a well-disguised slower ball.

Where Vaughan failed, though, both Marcus Trescothick and Butcher prospered and they enjoyed a 126-run partnership spanning 35 overs which rarely looked under threat.

Somerset left-hander Trescothick must have felt particularly confident against Muttiah Muralitharan - he has not been dismissed by the Sri Lankan in six Test appearances against him.

Just as he also had his sights set on successive centuries, though, he pushed forward to Murali and edged low to Mahela Jayawardene at slip, who took a diving catch.

Captain Nasser Hussain responded to Trescothick's loss by hammering Fernando for 14 in one over shortly before tea and then attempting to repeat the feat after the interval - only to be also foiled by the slower ball to give Murali a simple catch.

Graham Thorpe, fortunate to escape an earlier appeal, was perhaps unlucky to be given out, caught behind off an inside edge as he tried to clip Upashantha off the back foot.

England (first innings)

Trescothick c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 81

M.Vaughan c Vaas b D.Fernando 36

M.Butcher not out 85

N.Hussain c Muralitharan b D.Fernando 16

G.Thorpe c Sangakkara b Upashantha 32

A.Stewart not out 7

Extras (b-5 lb-2 nb-9) 16

Total (for four wickets, 72 overs) 273

Fall of wickets: 1-66 2-192 3-219 4-262

To bat: A.Flintoff, A.Tudor, A.Giles, A.Caddick, M.Hoggard.

Bowling (to date): Vaas 17-4-50-0 (2-nb), Upashantha 7-0-50-1 (7-nb), Fernando 18-2-87-2, Muralitharan 28-9-74-1, de Silva 2-0-5-0 Sri Lanka: M.Atapattu, R.Arnold, K.Sangakkara, M.Jayawardene, A.de Silva, S.Jayasuriya, H.Tillekeratne, C.Vaas, E.Upashantha, D.Fernando, M.Muralitharan.