Plunkett completes test best figures

BIRMINGHAM, England, May 25 (Reuters) Seamer Liam Plunkett completed his test best figures today as England dismissed Sri Lanka for 141 just before tea on the first day of the second test at Edgbaston.

Plunkett captured two wickets in his opening over to finish with three for 43 after Sri Lanka had won the toss and elected to bat.

The tourists would have been further humiliated had it not been for Chaminda Vaas (30 not out) and Lasith Malinga (26) who added 50 for the ninth wicket.

Plunkett snared three of the top four Sri Lanka batsmen to give England the upper hand for the second match in succession.

After Matthew Hoggard had bowled Upul Tharanga for a duck, the 21-year-old Plunkett produced a double-wicket maiden with his first over.

Michael Vandort (9) drove loosely at a wide and full delivery and was well caught by Paul Collingwood in the gully, justifying his reputation as England's best fielder.

Then Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene edged his third delivery to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones and departed without scoring.

After Jayawardene's 61 and 119 at Lord's, it was a wicket met with understandable jubilation by the England players with Sri Lanka now 16 for three.

Five overs later Hoggard claimed his second wicket when Thilan Samaraweera (3) deflected an outswinger to the reliable Collingwood at fourth slip. Sri Lanka were in deep trouble at 25 for four.

Kumar Sangakkara became the penultimate wicket when he edged a Plunkett delivery angled across him to Jones. His hard-fought 25 runs had taken 87 minutes.

Jones completed his third catch when all-rounder Farveez Maharoof (5) edged Sajid Mahmood from the last ball before lunch.

After lunch, top-scorer Tillekeratne Dilshan gave England skipper Andrew Flintoff his first wicket of the innings when he edged his cover drive to Marcus Trescothick at first slip and was out for 27.

Trescothick pouched another in the same position in the next over when Nuwan Kulasekera (3) edged Sajid Mahmood for three to reduce Sri Lanka to 82 for eight.

It should have been 84 for nine had Monty Panesar, frequently ridiculed by fans for his poor fielding, not dropped a simple chance at mid-off from Malinga off Plunkett when he was on nought.

Panesar redeemed himself somewhat when, the ball after Malinga and Vaas had registered their 50 partnership, he trapped Malinga lbw with his fifth ball.

Muttiah Muralitharan (1) was the last man to fall when he attempted to slog his Lancashire team mate and friend Flintoff but managed only to sky a catch to Plunkett at cover.

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