England set 78 to win after dismissing Sri Lanka for 231

BIRMINGHAM, England, May 28 (Reuters) England needed to score 78 to win the second test after bowling Sri Lanka out for 231 in their second innings at Edgbaston today.

Opener Michael Vandort scored a gritty 105, facing 303 balls, before falling to Liam Plunkett as the last man out about 30 minutes before lunch on the fourth day.

Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody yesterday said that his side were looking for a lead of at least 130.

England took Sri Lanka's last five wickets for 12 runs in 33 balls with Plunkett taking three of them.

The introduction of the new ball changed the tone of the game after England had toiled for 14 overs without a breakthrough in the morning session.

Andrew Flintoff's second ball back in his second spell accounted for Farveez Maharoof, who stabbed at a short delivery that ballooned up offering the England captain a return catch.

Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Kulasekera fell in consecutive deliveries and were out in identical fashion, caught in the gully by Paul Collingwood off Plunkett. That was 223 for eight.

Lasith Malinga went next over, edging to Andrew Strauss at second slip off Flintoff and Vandort edged Plunkett to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones three balls later.

It was an impressive finish to the innings by England after Vandort's defiance. The batsman was stuck on 95 for 20 balls but never allowed the pressure to distract him from scoring his second test hundred.

Plunkett finished with three for 17 in the innings and six for 60 in the match.

REUTERS PG RK1802