Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took centre stage with bat and ball as Sri Lanka seized the initiative against England on the second day of the first Test on Wednesday.

Muralitharan, who had earlier slogged 38 at a run-a-ball at number 11, dismissed openers Michael Vaughan (24) and Marcus Trescothick (23) in a miserly spell to leave the visitors on 97 for two in reply to Sri Lanka's 331.

Ashley Giles took four for 69 from 32.5 overs for England.

Vaughan and Trescothick had started positively, posting a fifty stand in the 12th over, as Trescothick pummelled debutante Dinusha Fernando for three boundaries in an over.

But Muralitharan, introduced into the attack in the 13th over and who finished with two for 15 off 10 overs, needed just 15 balls to take his first wicket of the series.

The left-handed Trescothick, perhaps unluckily, was adjudged to have nicked a catch to Kumar Sangakkara behind the stumps.

Fours over later, with the light dimming fast after a day of glorious sunshine, Vaughan was bowled between the legs as he tried to pad away a big-turning off break.

England had slid from 56 without loss to 67 for two.

Mark Butcher (15 not out), who was dropped on 13 by Mahela Jayawardene at short leg, survived till the close with fellow left-hander Graham Thorpe (20 not out).

Sri Lanka, who had resumed on 138 for four, were able to post a competitive total on a turning pitch after a string of useful partnerships.

Sangakkara (71) batted stylishly with Thilan Samaraweera (45) in the morning, adding 70 for the fifth wicket.

Vaughan eventually turned back to his pace bowlers and took the new ball, a decision that brought instant success.

Richard Johnson struck with his first delivery, swinging a full-length delivery back to trap Sangakkara lbw. Sangakkara hit nine fours and a six.

England's bowlers then claimed the upper hand moments before the lunch break as all rounder Andrew Flintoff reduced Sri Lanka to 239 for seven with two wickets for three runs in a three-over spell.

Samaraweera chased a wide short ball to edge behind and end a 36-run stand for the sixth wicket and Chandana was trapped lbw.

But Kumar Dharmasena (27) and Chaminda Vaas (22 not out) frustrated the tourists with a 40-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Muralitharan then slogged unconventionally, hitting four fours and one towering six over the main pavilion off Batty as 40 runs were added for the last wicket before Giles had Muralitharan caught behind.

Off-spinner Batty took two for 98 and Flintoff three for 42.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka (1st innings):
M Atapattu c Read b Flintoff 29
S Jayasuriya c Collingwood b Giles 48
K Sangakkara lbw Johnson 71
M Jayawardene c Collingwood b Giles 17
H Tillakaratne c Read b Giles 0
T Samaraweera c Read b Flintoff 45
U Chandana lbw Flintoff 21
K Dharmasena lbw Batty 27
C Vaas not out 22
D Fernando c Collingwood b Batty 4
M Muralitharan c Read b Giles 38

Extras: (b5, lb2, nb1, w1) 9

Total: (all out, 127.5 overs) 331

Fall of wickets: 1-76, 2-88, 3-132, 4-132, 5-202, 6-238, 7-239, 8-279, 9-291

Bowling: Hoggard 20-4-49-0, Johnson 17-5-54-1, Flintoff 23-7-42-3, Collingwood 4-0-12-0, Batty 31-5-98-2, Giles 32.5-9-69-4.

England (1st innings):
M Trescothick c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 23
M Vaughan b Muralitharan 24
M Butcher batting 15
G Thorpe batting 20
Extras: (b4, lb5, nb6) 15

Total: (for two wickets, 37 overs) 97

Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-67.

Bowling: Vaas 6-1-14-0, Fernando 3-1-21-0, Dharmasena 11-3-20-0, Muralitharan 10-5-15-2, Chandana 7-1-18-0.