Sri Lanka openers frustrate England

A mixture of heavy rain and watchful Sri Lankan batting ensured England's return to the Test arena for the first time since their Ashes glory was a world away from their Sydney celebrations.

On day one of the first npower Test in Cardiff, Andrew Strauss' men were kept off the field until 3.30pm by rain and then frustrated by half-centuries from openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana.

The duo put on a stand of 93 before Graeme Swann removed the skipper for 50, then Kumar Sangakkara fell for 11 to James Anderson on a marginal caught-behind verdict on review. At the close of play, with just 48 overs possible, the tourists were 133 for two.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat only for Anderson to beat Paranavitana outside off with the first ball of the match. Stuart Broad was a little slower off the mark and his wayward first over went for 11, including a first boundary for each batsman.

Anderson found some swing to Paranavitana in his next over, with a stifled lbw appeal among a good maiden. The Lancashire seamer continued to impress with the new ball, moving one extravagantly off the pitch then finding the edge of Dilshan's bat, though the ball fell short of Alastair Cook at third slip.

Chris Tremlett, playing his first home Test since August 2007, was given his first chance in place of Broad and cramped up Paranavitana with his third ball, which was chopped uncomfortably close to off stump. Anderson, whose first seven-over spell cost just seven runs, thought he had Paranavitana caught behind by Matt Prior but it was pad rather than bat.

Dilshan opened his shoulders after the break. He drove Broad for four through the covers in the first over back, then added two more boundaries off Anderson. Tremlett looked the most likely wicket-taker, finding some extra bounce and rapping Dilshan on the glove, before having a leg-before shout turned down after trapping Paranavitana in the crease.

A comfortable single saw Dilshan to his 50 off 92 balls, but it was the skipper's last run as he perished to Swann, cutting against the spin and playing on with the stand at 93.

Sangakkara got off the mark with an elegant four but was sent back in controversial circumstances for 11. Anderson went up for a caught behind appeal that was turned down by Aleem Dar. England successfully overturned the decision despite replays being inconclusive, though technology later suggested there had been the thinnest of edges.

Paranavitana collected successive fours off Tremlett as he moved beyond 50 with a flourish at odds with the stoic nature of his innings. At stumps, Paranavitana was 58 not out from 154 balls and Mahela Jayawardene was unbeaten on four.