Sri Lanka on top in Galle

England were made to toil in the stifling heat once again by Sri Lanka's premier batsmen after going for broke in the final Test.

Needing to win to level the series and maintain second place in the official Test rankings, England captain Michael Vaughan opted to bowl first at Galle and advance the contest quickly.

But Kumar Sangakkara (46 not out) and Mahela Jayawardene (45no), both of whom have scored big hundreds in this series, batted throughout the middle session to take tea on 132 for two.

England claimed two pre-lunch wickets via fortuitous leg-before dismissals as umpiring decisions proved the focus of a delayed first session.

Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf adjudged Sri Lankan openers Michael Vandort and Upul Tharanga lbw to give Ryan Sidebottom and Steve Harmison early successes.

England also believed they had snared Sangakkara caught behind on two, in between those two, and a third wicket would have been satisfactory reward for inserting the opposition on a damp surface.

An expansive Sangakkara drive outside the off-stump sparked huge English appeals, with fielders converging on the batsman and gesticulating to umpire Daryl Harper.

Sangakkara shook his head and muttered something as his opponents engulfed him, although television technology highlighted a noise as ball passed bat.

Typical clips off the pads and off-side drives propelled the 30-year-old into the 40s, while Jayawardene showed glimpses of his own class to keep a similar pace.