The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Kandy

Sri Lanka defeated England by 88 runs in the first cricket Test here on Wednesday to take the lead in the three-match series.

England, set a victory target of 350, were dismissed for 261 in the last hour of the fifth and final day's play at the Asgiriya stadium.

The second Test starts at the Sinhalese Sports Club in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo on Sunday.

Scoreboard

Final scoreboard of the first Test between England and Sri Lanka at the Asgiriya stadium here on Wednesday:

Sri Lanka 1st innings: 188 (K. Sangakkara 92, P. Jayawardene 51, M. Hoggard 4-29, M. Panesar 3-46)

England 1st innings: 281 (I. Bell 83, P. Collingwood 45,

M. Muralitharan 6-55)

Sri Lanka 2nd innings: 442-8 decl (K. Sangakkara 152,

M. Jayawardene 65, M. Panesar 3-132)

England 2nd innings (overnight 9-1):

A. Cook c Silva b Vaas 4

M. Vaughan c P. Jayawardene b Vaas 5

J. Anderson b Vaas 11

I. Bell b Muralitharan 74

K. Pietersen b Fernando 18

Collingwood c Sangakkara b Fernando 16

R. Bopara lbw b Jayasuriya 34

M. Prior b Muralitharan 63

R. Sidebottom lbw b Muralitharan 1

M. Hoggard b Malinga 8

M. Panesar not out 2

Extras: (b5, lb9, nb11) 25

Total 261

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Cook), 2-22 (Vaughan), 3-27 (Anderson), 4-55 (Pietersen), 5-90 (Collingwood), 6-139 (Bopara), 7-248 (Prior), 8-249 (Bell), 9-253 (Sidebottom).

Bowling: Vaas 17-3-56-3 (nb5), Malinga 15-3-39-1 (nb4), Muralitharan 36-12-85-3 (nb1), Jayasuriya 14-6-28-1, Fernando 12-1-39-2 (nb1).

Overs: 94

Sri Lanka won by 88 runs

Toss: Sri Lanka

Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Asad Rauf (PAK)

TV umpire: Tyron Wijewardene (SRI)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)

Second Test in Colombo from Dec 9-13;

Third Test in Galle from Dec 18-22.