Vaughan seeks improvement

Ian Bell hits the ball through point during his half-century

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Michael Vaughan paid tribute to England's performance with the bat on the last day as they kept their hopes of levelling the series in Sri Lanka alive by securing a second Test draw in Colombo.

The tourists had as good as staved off the threat of defeat by reaching 250 for three at tea on the fifth day when a forecasted storm blew in and confirmed the draw.

“It was a very comfortable draw,” said captain Vaughan. “I have been in the England side for a long time and I have not been involved in that many really comfortable draws.”

It was set up by another three-figure stand from new opening pair Vaughan and Alastair Cook, who, along with Ian Bell, hit half-centuries before being dismissed.

However, England’s lack of first-innings hundreds of late blighted them once again and their below-par effort of 351 left them intent on survival rather than victory.

“We’re still lacking that first-innings hundred that we’re asking for,” said Vaughan.

“A couple got in, including myself, and got set, and were a little bit unfortunate with our dismissals.

“But it has not happened for four or five Test matches now and if you are going to win Test matches consistently you have to get big scores in the first innings of the game.”

England appear to be acquitting themselves better against dangerman Muttiah Muralitharan as the series draws on, however - his only success in 27 second-innings overs came when Bell perished to him for the fourth time in a row, hitting to Michael Vandort at long-on.

Muttiah Muralitharan showed signs of his powers waning

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“He is a great bowler but the more you play any bowler the more you get accustomed to his deliveries and to the angles from which the ball is coming at you,” said Vaughan.

“The more time you play against him should mean you develop more scoring areas.”

At 35, and with no frontline spinner in support, Muralitharan showed signs that his powers may be waning through over-use.

Since charging past Shane Warne’s Test bowling record in the first innings at Kandy, in fact, he has taken 110.2 overs to claim nine wickets.

“He is getting quite a few massages but other than that he is okay,” insisted Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene.

“One of the reasons I didn’t want to run him down today is that we have another Test match in Galle.

“The only way we would have had any chance was to pick up two or three quick wickets with the new ball - then Murali could have come into play.

“But the openers played really well and once the ball got softer it was very difficult. I juggled a few options but the wicket was too slow to get anything out of it.”

Tillakaratne Dilshan may be recalled to give more options

Batsman Chamara Silva proved his leg-spin can be a handy back-up by taking the edge of Cook’s bat with the first ball after lunch.

But the Sri Lankans may still feel the need to answer Murali’s call for another slow man at the other end by recalling Tillakaratne Dilshan, whose off-spin has reaped 44 one-day international victims, for the final Test.

England must win the series finale to retain their second place in the International Cricket Council rankings.

But, as Jayawardene could not resist pointing out, they will need to be more adventurous to do so on surfaces so unresponsive to the bowlers.

“We were disappointed with the way England batted in the first innings on this wicket, scoring only 350 runs in five sessions,” he said.

Jayawardene, whose team will displace them in second with a victory of their own, added. “It is quite difficult to win a Test match when you bat like that.

“If they want to win a Test match they probably need to bat quicker than that and put pressure on the opposition.

“On the best part of the wicket they didn’t push for runs - and if the wickets get slower I reckon they will find it more difficult to score runs than us.”