Mahmood sparkles on debut

Kevin Pietersen celebrates upon reaching a superb century © Getty Images

Sajid Mahmood dazzled on debut with a devastating spell of pace bowling to claim three wickets as England continued to dominate the 1st npower Test at Lord's after posting 551 for six declared on day two.

By the time bad light stopped play, Mahmood had picked up 3-9 off five overs as Sri Lanka stumbled to 91 for six.

Only a stubborn 40 not out from Mahela Jayawardene prevented a complete collapse, and he will resume on Saturday alongside Farveez Maharoof (six not out).

Matthew Hoggard started the rot when he left the tourists reeling on nought for one after getting the ball to swing in and strike Jehan Mubarak on the pads lbw.

And the same trick did for Upul Tharanga (10), although this time the batsman shouldered arms for a simple leg before decision, leaving the score on 21 for two.

The Sri Lankans should have lost the wicket of skipper Jayawardene off Andrew Flintoff but wicket-keeper Geraint Jones put down a tough chance.

It was not to prove too costly though as, moments later, Kumar Sangakkara (21) departed slashing at a wide delivery from Mahmood, caught by Marcus Trescothick at first slip with the score on 81 for three.

And the Lancashire paceman struck again when he trapped Thilan Samaraweera (nought) plum in front.

Sri Lanka's woes deepened when they lost their fifth wicket on 85. Tillekeratne Dilshan (nought) looked for a quick single but was sent back by Jayawardene and was short of his crease when Hoggard threw the ball to Jones who whipped off the bails.

Mahmood then claimed his third wicket - Chamara Kapugedera for a first-ball duck - as the Lord's crowd looked on in enthusiastic disbelief.

Earlier, Kevin Pietersen hit a magnificent 158 - equalling his highest Test score.

His strokeplay not only lit up the second day's play but tightened England's grip on this game to such an extent that they they declared to prompt an early tea.

Even the dismissals of Pietersen and Paul Collingwood, who made 57, in the space of six balls could not take the gloss off a day in which England pressed home the advantage gained yesterday (Thursday) after winning the toss.

Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones added a rapid 49, the stand-in captain hitting a six before ending the Sri Lankans’ misery in the field.

Unbeaten on 54 overnight, Pietersen overcame the early loss of nightwatchman Hoggard to reach three figures for the second time on English soil.

The moment clearly meant a great deal to Pietersen, whose leap for delight as he completed the third run that took him to his milestone reflected his appreciation of the sense of occasion.

His century, which came off 129 balls and included 14 fours and a six during three and a half hours at the crease, lifted England into a position of considerable strength.

Pietersen works the ball off his legs en route to three figures © Getty Images

Pietersen batted in much the same manner throughout the day, mixing impudent flicks through the leg side with booming cover drives and slog-sweeps.

However, after equalling the brilliant 158 he made in the final Ashes Test at the Brit Oval last summer, he was lbw to Chaminda Vaas playing across the line.

Collingwood, like all the batsmen before him, made a valuable contribution - he and Pietersen put on 173 for the fifth wicket - but he was bowled by Muttiah Muralitharan as he attempted to cut a sharp-turning off-break.

Flintoff struck three fours and two sixes in a 29-ball 33, while Jones was unbeaten on 11 when England declared.

Hoggard had departed in the fifth over of the day when left-armer Vaas snuck a slower ball past a prod forward to hit off-stump.