AS if a battle against the climate was not enough of a disadvantage, England also lost the crucial toss which enabled Sri Lanka to bat on a wicket which by the close had begun to deteriorate and should offer great assistance to Muttiah Muralitharan later in the match.

Sri Lanka's batsmen progressed to a formidable 221 for two on the opening day, with England coming up against a side still smarting from their series defeat in South Africa and, knowing England would adopt similar defensive fields, resisted their natural inclination to display the full range of their attacking strokeplay.

Home captain Sanath Jayasuriya was the only player not to stick to the gameplan and fell in the fifth over of the day, cutting Gough to Craig White in the gully after scoring 18 off only 16 deliveries.

For the rest of the day, though, the tone of the innings was set by the determination of Jayasuriya's fellow opener Marvan Atapattu, who batted the whole six hours for his unbeaten 85, taking 81 minutes to reach double figures having failed to score from 41 consecutive balls he faced.

While he was resolute at one end, England were able to take a first glimpse at law student Kumar Sangakkara who played with an assurance and confidence rarely seen from a batsman making only his eighth Test appearance.

Sangakkara helped Atapattu forge a 92-run partnership which spanned 39 overs before falling when he attempted to force the pace, advancing down the wicket to off-spinner Robert Croft and driving straight to White at short extra-cover for 58.

If that was the break England needed it was their final one of the day, with Atapattu then teaming up with veteran Aravinda de Silva, Sri Lanka's leading Test run-scorer with an aggregate of 5755, to build another frustrating and demoralising partnership.

Twice England thought they had ended de Silva's innings after he slashed hard at Gough off the back foot on 20 and was put down by Graham Thorpe diving to his left at fourth slip.

By the time the tourists had another opportunity to end de Silva's occupation of the crease, he had given a painful glimpse of just what a destructive batsman he can be by hitting Croft for a six and a four in three balls.

That took him to within two runs of his half-century, which was almost denied him when Atapattu steered Graeme Hick off his legs and de Silva set off for a single only to be sent back. Third umpire Asoka de Silva decided he had only just beaten Alec Stewart's throw to the non-striker's end.

It summed up England's day, and with Andrew Caddick losing his temper just before the close when de Silva drove another boundary, it was clear the hours in the field had taken their toll