England within sight of victory in first test

LONDON, May 15 (Reuters) England captured two wickets on the final morning of the first test against Sri Lanka at Lord's today to move within sight of victory in the opening test of the season.

At lunch Sri Lanka, who had been asked to follow on on Saturday, were 429 for eight in their second innings, an overall lead of 70.

The start was delayed by 20 minutes because of rain and the players then left the field 20 minutes before the scheduled lunch break when the rain returned.

Chamara Kapugedera was the first wicket to fall, gloving a catch to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones after an attempted hook off Andrew Flintoff. The 19-year-old debutant scored only 10 but resisted for 58 minutes as Sri Lanka fought to save the match.

Kapugedera should have gone without adding to his overnight score of five but instead he was the beneficiary of some more fallible England catching.

Six chances had already gone to ground and today it was the turn of captain Andrew Flintoff, one of the best slip fielders in the world.

Matthew Hoggard was again the unlucky bowler, catching the edge of Kapugedera's bat. The ball went at a comfortable speed and at waist-height to Flintoff who spilled the catch.

Tillekeratne Dilshan, 39 not out overnight, moved into his stride with three off Hoggard on the leg-side. He smacked Flintoff through the covers for four then leg-glanced the England skipper for another four to bring up his eighth test 50 from 106 balls with eight boundaries.

A hook shot off Sajid Mahmood, who had replaced Flintoff at the Pavilion End, rocketed to the boundary and Dilshan looked set to bat through the morning session when he edged a delivery from Liam Plunkett to Marcus Tresothick and was out for 69. It was Plunkett's first wicket of the match.

Chaminda Vaas hooked Mahmood for two boundaries in the same over before the rain came again.

Reuters DH GC1815