The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Colombo

England captain Michael Vaughan scored his 16th test half-century Sunday to give his side a confident start in the opening session of the second cricket test against Sri Lanka. Vaughan justified his decision to bat first after winning the toss at Sinhalese Sports Club and went to lunch unbeaten on 75 with the team total at 97.

He dominated the session, punching some exquisite drives and brought up his 50 with a pull shot off pace bowler Dilhara Fernando for a boundary. Alastair Cook assumed a more sedate role and gave his skipper good support with 21 runs off 68 balls. England must win this test to give itself a chance of winning the three-match series after an 88-run loss to Sri Lanka in the first test at Kandy last week.

None of the host's bowlers offered any threat to the English batsmen, except when Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene dropped Cook on eight at slip off a Fernando ball.

Sri Lanka replaced its retired opener Sanath Jayasuriya with Upul Tharanga for the second test, while England handed Stuart Broad his first test cap after dropping pace bowler James Anderson. The visitors also brought in Steve Harmison for injured Matthew Hoggard.