Butcher and Hussain hold firm against SL

London, May 19: Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain ground out a lead of 41 against Sri Lanka in the First Test here at Lord's on Sunday.

At stumps on the fourth day England, following-on, were 321 for two in reply to Sri Lanka's mammoth 555 for eight declared - a total England only finally overhauled in the 94th over of their second innings - with Michael Vaughan's 115 the centrepiece.

Butcher was 55 not out and England captain Hussain 51 not out when bad light brought an early close to proceedings.

In a responsible display Butcher curbed his natural attacking game, his fifty being made in over three and three-quarter hours.

Hussain was more aggressive, lofting opposing captain Sanath Jayasuriya for a straight six, his 113 ball-knock also including five fours.

However, when Hussain turned his head away and ducked into a short ball from Chaminda Vaas, England were immediately offered the light by the umpires.

Sri Lanka's bowlers kept going gamely but at last the absence of injured spearhead off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan appeared to catch up with the tourists.

Murali, who arrived in England on Saturday after receiving treatment in Australia for a shoulder injury, could only watch from the pavilion balcony as his team-mates ploughed on without him.

And he would have been as surprised as anyone to see Jayasuriya twice drop Vaughan before the Yorkshire batsman reached three figures.

"No-one drops them on purpose," said Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore. "It was just unfortunate that it was the skipper's turn.

"It didn't work out for us today. England batted really well to be in this position.

"Psychologically it's not easy to come back after being over 200 runs behind on first innings," added Whatmore.

"They had a bit of luck but you make your own luck and we'll need to play well tomorrow (Monday).

"But the game is still tantalisingly poised."

Meanwhile a delighted Vaughan said: "I was dropped twice but it was my day today.

"But our first innings was not good enough. We spoke before play about pride and batting out the day. But we've only had one good day," Vaughan added.

In the first over of the day, opener Vaughan edged Buddika Fernando's third ball to first slip where Jayasuriya floored the routine chance.

Vaughan was then 28 with England 61 without loss.

He had added just five more runs when he nicked Nuwan Zoysa and Jayasuriya, again having got both hands to the ball, dropped the straightforward slip catch.

Sri Lanka then had to wait until the fifth over after lunch for England to lose their first second innings wicket.

Marcus Trescothick was lbw to Zoysa but television replays suggested Australian umpire Daryl Harper had made a mistake, the ball deflecting into the left-hander's pads off his bat.

Nevertheless, the Somerset batsman was out for a well-made 76 from 135 balls including seven fours with England 168 for one at that stage.

He and Vaughan had been responsible for England's best opening stand since Michael Atherton and Butcher put on 179 in the First Test against South Africa at Edgbaston in 1998.

Vaughan, when on the brink of his second Test century, suffered several panicky moments after reaching 99.

Some wild heaves against Aravinda de Silva would not have inspired confidence in the England dressing room and nor would Butcher's kamikaze single to get Vaughan on strike.

Vaughan eventually got to his hundred with another risky single off de Silva, having faced 197 balls and hitting 15 boundaries. Jayasuriya, backing up Fernando's throw from mid-off, injured his left hand and left the field.

Shortly before tea, to the second ball of seamer Ruchira Perera's new spell, Vaughan nibbled tamely outside off-stump to give wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara his sixth dismissal of the match.