It was all over 20 minutes into the afternoon session. A half-volley from Sanath Jayasuriya was pushed firmly and triumphantly by Craig White through extra cover and down towards the scoreboard, which showed that England had won the second Test, a match of acrimony and controversy but skill and drama as well, by three wickets.

Grit and a modicum of luck had seen them through an immensely tense final day where once, even a year ago, they would have folded under such pressure as came from the Sri Lankan bowlers on a wearing fifth-day pitch and jittery umpiring.

The series now stands at one match each and there is all to play for in the final match in Colombo which begins on Thursday.

Whether Nasser Hussain will be fit to lead England will be in doubt for a while. The England captain damaged his groin chasing a ball to the boundary on Saturday, and later batted first wicket down, as usual, for an hour and a half in obvious discomfort although without a runner.

Hussain, restricted in his movement, in fact played a sheet-anchor role during a second-wicket stand of 74 with Graham Thorpe, 46, which put his side on the road to their target of 161.

If England had failed to win this match, however, they would have needed to ask some serious questions of themselves. Despite losing an important toss, they had played themselves into a situation at the end of the third day where Sri Lanka were effectively eight for six in their second innings.

They had also enjoyed the bulk of the benefit from the succession of umpiring gaffes, chiefly from the home umpire BC Cooray but also the South African Rudi Koertzen.

Despite the acrimony, there had been much admirable cricket: from the man-of-the-match Darren Gough, whose indefatigable spirit broke the Sri Lankan innings and whose last-wicket, first-innings stand with Croft gave England enough leeway to squeeze home; from Andy Caddick in the first innings; from Croft himself, along with Hussain and Thorpe; and on the Sri Lankan side from Jayawardene; Sangakkara, whose brilliant 95 on Saturday gave his side renewed hope; from Dharmasena and from Vaas.

The umpiring has been against him but Murali has been a disappointment. Perhaps England have his measure. Perhaps Colombo will bring retribution.

Second test

Sri Lanka v England (In Kandy) Sri Lanka first innings 297 (M Jayewardene 101, R Arnold 65, D Gough 4-73, A Caddick 455).

England first innings 387 (N Hussain 109, G Thorpe 59, A Stewart 54, M Muralitharan 4-127, S Jayasuriya 3-76).

Sri Lanka second innings 250 (K Sangakkara 95, K Dharmasena 54, D Gough 450, R Croft 3-40).

England second innings (overnight 91-4) M Atherton c Sangakkara b Vaas - 11 M Trescothick lbw b Vaas - 13 N Hussain c Sangakkara b Vaas - 15 G Thorpe c Sangakkara b Muralitharan - 46 A Stewart lbw b Vaas - 7 R Croft lbw b Dharmasena - 17 G Hick b Jayasuriya - 16 C White not out - 13 A Giles not out - 3 Extras (b1, lb8, nb2) - 11

Total (7 wkts at lunch, 65 overs)