By Caroline
May 25 2006

England takes control as the first day down Edgbaston went extremely well. With Sri Lanka all out for 141 and the weather actually sunny for once it seems like everything is going well. The day ended with England on 183 - 3.

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first, only it wasn’t their day.

Well into the fifth ball of the day Hoggard stormed in with pace, bowling opener Upul Tharanga out for a duck. Plunkett put on a spectacular display as he got 2 wickets in his first over! First one out for Plunkett was Michael Vandort who edged Paul Collingwood to gully. Second one in his first over was Jayawardene; famously getting that century at Lords didn’t help him as Geraint Jones received the catch. Collingwood then caught Thilan Samaraweera out from Hoggard to see the fourth wicket of the day.

Tillekeratne Dilshan could have been out if it wasn’t for a no ball being called with skipper Andrew Flintoff catching the ball at second slip. Next batsman to go was Kumar Sangakkara and shortly after Farveez Maharoof who both edged the ball behind to see them both go. After lunch, Dishlan went for 27 as he edged low to Marcus Trescothick who was at first slip. Trescothick also got another comfortable catch as he watched Nuwan Kulasekara go back to the pavilion while Mahmood got another wicket only lasting 8 balls.

Chaminda Vaas and Malinga put on a brilliant partnership to deny England any break through of getting a 9th wicket. It didn’t last that long as Panesar came into the attack getting Malinga out for lbw at 27 runs. Flintoff completed the morning by getting the last wicket for England as he removed Muralitharan from the field leaving Sri Lanka on 141 all out.

Next was England’s turn to put on a good display, this time at batting. England openers Strauss and Trescothick put on 56 before Trescothick was out for 27 who were caught behind by Sangakkara. Strauss got run out with only 30 runs under his belt with a complete mix up between him and Alistair Cook. Cook was later removed from the pitch as he fell lbw before stumps for an unimpressive 23. Kevin Pieterson has had a brilliant day when he will resume tomorrow on 30.

Sri Lanka 141 all out

England 183-3