In-form Butcher, Trescothick share honours on Day 1

Mark Butcher sustained his prolific form and went on to score an unbeaten 85 against Sri Lanka on the opening day of the third and final Test at Old Trafford on Thursday.

When rain forced an early close with 18 of the day's quota of 90 overs remaining, England were 273 for four - a satisfying start as they seek to clinch the series in which they lead 1-0.

Vaughan - the Yorkshire batsman - had dominated an opening stand of 66 with Trescothick.

Dilhara Fernando, who was making his first appearance of the series after a stress fracture, claimed two wickets. The paceman removed Michael Vaughan for 36 and captain Nasser Hussain for 16.

Vaughan fell to a slower delivery from Fernando, the quickest of the Sri Lankan bowlers. He checked his stroke as he pushed into the off side but succeeded only in giving Chaminda Vaas a simple catch, having faced 44 balls and hit five fours.

Trescothick had less of the strike during the early exchanges but after negotiating a probing spell from left-arm paceman Vaas he batted with growing confidence and authority as he reached his half-century from 75 balls with his 10th four.

England went to lunch with 105 for one, of which Trescothick had made 53. He got his lives shortly after the interval.

Butcher, like Trescothick, is enjoying impressive form in this series with scores of 94 and 105 in his previous two innings.

The Surrey batsman's main ally was Marcus Trescothick, who survived two chances off consecutive deliveries to make 81 as the pair shared a second wicket partnership of 126.

The Somerset batsman was on 64 when he was put down by Hashan Tillekeratne at deep gully and in the process got two runs too. The next ball, an attempted pull went awry, but Eric Upashantha at square leg dropped a simple catch.

Muttiah Muralitharan, who got some turn during a long spell from the Warwick Road end, brought Sri Lanka some respite with a delivery that Trescothick edged as he pushed forward. Mahela Jayawardene took the one-handed catch low to his left at first slip.

His runs, which included 14 fours, came off 152 balls and followed his Test best of 161 in the previous match at Edgbaston.

Hussain immediately carried the attack to the bowlers by smashing 14 off Fernando in one over just before tea, taken at 215 for two.

He had struck 16 off 24 deliveries when he tried to slog a wide one from Fernando and skied to Muralitharan at mid-off shortly after the interval.

Butcher, who had to pass a fitness Test on an injured knee before the match, batted with fluency and confidence from the outset as he made his runs from 166 balls, hitting 13 fours.

Bad light and rain curtailed the final session during which England lost Graham Thorpe for 32 when he got an inside edge to paceman Upashantha and was caught behind.

Earlier, after England won the toss on a fine but cloudy morning and decided to bat.

England fielded the side who won the second Test by an innings and 111 runs to lead 1-0 in the series but the touring team made two changes to their pace attack.

Fernando, who has now recovered from a stress fracture of the back, and Upashantha came in for Nuwan Zoysa and Buddika Fernando.

Mail Cricket Editor