Sri Lanka make solid start after rain delay in Cardiff

England's Ashes success must have felt like a long time ago for Andrew Strauss as he watched his bowling attack toil for a long period before getting some eventual reward against Sri Lanka yesterday.

The Sri Lankans will resume on 133 for two today after choosing to bat on a rain delayed first day of the opening Test in the three match series in Cardiff.

It was a frustrating day for England's bowlers who had to wait until 3.30pm local time to finally get out on the pitch after rain showers constantly thwarted the ground staff's efforts to get proceedings started.

Then when they did get out there they found themselves frustrated by Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Sri Lanka captain, and Tharanga Paranavitana.

Stuart Broad, who came into the match on 99 Test wickets, conceded 11 runs off his first over, although he did manage to beat the outside edge of Dilshan's bat twice. That start was in contrast to James Anderson's first two overs, which cost one run.

Although Broad came back well in his second over, conceding only one run, both openers had straight driven him for boundaries by the sixth over.

Dilshan passed 4,000 Test runs when he pushed an Anderson delivery to the vacant mid-wicket area for two, but required treatment at the end of the over after the last ball struck him around the groin area.

After tea the pair continued to move the score along well, with England having to rely on the guile of Graeme Swann's spin to get the breakthrough.

Dilshan chopped a ball from Swann onto his stumps on 50 to end the partnership with the score on 93.

Controversy came shortly afterwards as Kumar Sangakkara was dismissed for 11, after England successfully referred a caught behind appeal off Anderson's bowling.

Umpire Aleem Dar had rejected the appeal, but despite there being no visible movement off the bat on the replay, Sangakarra was sent on his way by Television Umpire Rod Tucker.

Sri Lanka though regrouped and Paranavitana hit a string of late boundaries to ensure he will resume on 58 not out, with Mahela Jayawardene at the other end on four.

* Agencies