Writing on wall after England collapse

All hope of avoiding a series defeat in the third Test in Galle has evaporated with barely a whimper from England's batsmen.

England suffered arguably their worst day under Michael Vaughan's captaincy and will require a monumental effort to avoid an innings thrashing in the final Test after collapsing to 81 all out.

After Sri Lanka declared for the third time in as many innings this campaign - this occasion on 499 for eight - England were shot out in less than two-and-a-half hours, for their lowest score on the subcontinent and also a low against Asian opposition in Test cricket.

"Off the top of my head I can't think of many worse days," said Paul Collingwood, who top-scored with 29. "There are a lot of disappointed people in that dressing room. These kind of days hit you hard - they hurt."

Six wickets fell inside the opening 11 overs and the only reprieve came during a seventh-wicket alliance between Paul Collingwood and Ryan Sidebottom. But once their 41-run share came to an end, the innings folded at a pace with debutant Chanaka Welegedara striking twice.

"We can't make excuses, we haven't been good enough," said Collingwood.

Having won the toss on a damp pitch, England were disappointed with how they used the new ball and Sri Lanka showed them how things should be done with a clinical display.

Vaughan misjudged a delivery from Chaminda Vaas which shaped back in to trap him plumb in front of middle and off stumps in the third over.

Ian Bell was run out in the next by Tillakaratne Dilshan's direct hit at the non-striker's end after Alastair Cook dropped to the off-side and initially called for a single.

Left-armer Vaas, who earlier hit a destructive 90, was extracting plenty of movement both in the air and off the pitch and, after Cook edged short of the slip cordon, umpire Asad Rauf adjudged a thinner nick next ball.

However the best delivery of a chaotic pre-lunch period was reserved for Kevin Pietersen - a bouncer which caused the batsman to jump and sway evasively was deemed to have brushed glove on its way through to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

The innings reached its conclusion in farcical manner when Monty Panesar was run out in a mix-up with Steve Harmison.

England finished the day following-on at two without loss, still 416 runs behind Sri Lanka, who dominated again through Mahela Jayawardene's double century and four wickets from Chaminda Vaas and are poised for a 2-0 series win.

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