Colombo, December 10:

Hosts Sri Lanka warded off England’s early threat as the rivals waged a grim struggle to take control of the second Test.

Sri Lanka, replying to England’s first innings total of 351, recovered from 22-2 to post 105 without further loss by close of the second day’s play. Opener Michael Vandort and skipper Mahela Jayawardene frustrated England’s bid to run through the top order by adding 83 runs for the unbroken third wicket. Vandort was unbeaten on 50 and Jayawardene was on 43.

England battled with both bat and ball in a bid to seize the advantage. Wicket-keeper Matthew Prior hit a second successive half-century and put on 74 runs for the eighth wicket with tailender Ryan Sidebottom (17) after England were struggling at 272-7 within the first hour of play.

Prior scored 79 before he was last man out to Muttiah Muralitharan, who finished with his 62nd five-wicket haul.

Sri Lanka, however, began poorly as Sidebottom and Prior combined once again to remove recalled opener Upul Tharanga (10) and the in-form Kumar Sangakkara (one) by the ninth over.

Vandort and Jayawardene, however, ensured there were no further setbacks for the hosts.

Earlier, England added 11 runs to their overnight score of 258-5 when left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas provided the first break in the seventh over of the day. Paul Collingwood, 49 overnight, completed his seventh Test half-century before he was trapped leg-before by Vaas for 52.

Test debutant Stuart Broad lasted only 12 minutes, making two before he fell leg-before to Lasith Malinga, giving the slinging-arm fast bowler his third wicket in the innings.