CRICKET: Battle-weary England limped through the third day at Trent Bridge to stay in contention in the final Test against Sri Lanka. Captain Andrew Flintoff, star batsman Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood all fought niggling injuries in a match they will do well to get out of undefeated.
Although England made half a dozen inroads into their opponents' batting, they incurred aches and pains along the way as Sri Lanka closed on 286 for seven, an overall advantage of 288.
Flintoff's troublesome left ankle played up again, but it did not stop the 28-year-old leading the side, accounting for dangerman Kumar Sangakkara.
Monty Panesar made the initial breakthrough, the solitary success of the opening session, when he had the last laugh over Upul Tharanga. Left-hander Tharanga lofted a six down the ground which landed on the concrete in front of the Radcliffe Road end stand and resulted in a chunk being taken out of the ball; the third delivery after it was replaced Panesar found the inside edge of the bat to provide a catch to short leg.
When the players returned, Flintoff went through the pain barrier to enhance his side's chances of knocking over Sri Lanka cheaply.
Sangakkara appeared in the mood to mark his 100th Test innings with a century but fell for 66 when he edged to Marcus Trescothick at a wide slip position.
The momentum of the contest seemed to be shifting as Panesar won a leg before shout against recalled veteran Sanath Jayasuriya, sweeping at a delivery which struck him around the line of off stump.
A beauty from Matthew Hoggard found the edge of Tillekeratne Dilshan's bat and Farveez Maharoof misjudged a straight one from Panesar. But teenager Chamara Kapugedera guided the Sri Lankans from a position of 238 for seven with a maiden Test half-century in only his second appearance.
It was an effort which belied Kapugedera's tender years and confirmed Sri Lankan authority ahead of the final innings on a surface heavily scuffed and no doubt appealing to Murali.
Those abrasions appeared to be added to by Dilshan's boots during his hour and a half at the crease and Flintoff took exception, reporting his suspicions to umpires Darrell Hair and Rudi Koertzen.
Overnight: England 229. Sri Lanka 23 and 45-1.
SRI LANKA: Second Innings
M G Vandort b Hoggard 5
W U Tharanga c Cook b Panesar 46
K C Sangakkara c Trescothick b Flintoff 66
D P M Jayawardene c G O Jones b Plunkett 45
S T Jayasuriya lbw b Panesar 4
T M Dilshan c G O Jones b Hoggard 32
C K Kapugedera not out 50
M F Maharoof b Panesar 6
W P U Vaas not out 24
Extras b1 lb3 nb4 8
Total 7 wkts (104 overs) 286
Fall: 1-6, 2-100, 3-143, 4-148, 5-191, 6-223, 7-238.
To Bat: S L Malinga, M Muralitharan.
Bowling: Hoggard 19-4-51-2; Lewis 20-6-54-0; Flintoff 13-1-38-1; Panesar 36-13-73-3; Plunkett 14-2-54-1; Pietersen 2-0-12-0.
