DURHAM seamer Liam Plunkett helped England banish the disappointment of Lord's this morning by taking three wickets to help reduce Sri Lanka to 65 for six at lunch.

Plunkett, born in Middlesbrough, was brought into the attack at the expense of skipper Andrew Flintoff and struck with his third ball when Michael Vandort was caught by the diving figure of Durham team-mate Paul Collingwood at gully.

Three balls later and he claimed his second.

This time the paceman caught out captain Mahela Jayawardene who was edged behind for a duck at Edgbaston.

After opening with a double wicket maiden Plunkett, after Matthew Hoggard had claimed his second, claimed his third by ending Kumar Sangakkara's 87 minutes at the crease.