Flintoff averts crisis for himself and England

The Lancashire all-rounder struck ten fours and four huge sixes in his 77, compiled in two hours, after the tourists slumped to 139 for five.

The 26-year-old's innings was all the better given his previous scores at Galle and Kandy and overall record on the sub-continent, where he had contributed 62 runs in nine previous Test innings.

England closed on 259 for eight, following Michael Vaughan's first correct call this winter.

''I was a bit nervous because of the four low scores in the last two matches of this series but I had to trust my method, not change too many things and bat the way I do,'' said Flintoff.

''You have got to try and stay positive. It plays on your mind a little bit but four scores don't make a bad player and you are going to fail from time to time.

''If you spend time in the middle things do get easier and the hardest part out here is to get 'in' as a batsman.

''When you have got men around the bat and the ball is spinning here, there and everywhere it is hard to get in and when you do you have to make sure you score the runs.''

Three of his sixes were hoisted straight back over leg-spinner Upul Chandana's head and the fourth, hooked over square leg off Chaminda Vaas, brought up his 69-ball half-century.

That was when Flintoff was imposing maximum damage, during an 87-run stand with Gareth Batty for the sixth wicket, and making a mockery of Sri Lanka coach John Dyson's pre-match remarks about English negativity.

Earlier that over Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar bent over backwards to preserve himself as a tracer-bullet of a straight drive fizzed past at head height on its way to the boundary.

Chandana also got his hands to another thump in his follow-through, although it was hit with such ferocity that it could not be regarded as a chance.

Flintoff, who has been encouraged to play his natural way by England supremo Duncan Fletcher and assistant Mike Watkinson, his county coach, appeared to be well set for a third Test century when he offered another return catch, this time to Muttiah Muralitharan, who held on low down.

Flintoff, a former Old Trafford colleague, stood his ground initially to wait for umpire Steve Bucknor's decision, but his dismissal was confirmed by third official TH Wijewardene.

Master spinner Murali has now claimed his wicket four out of five times to undermine England's most destructive player.

''I have tried to show aggression throughout the series but it hasn't always come off,'' said Flintoff. ''That is going to happen against the world's best bowler, who spins it a helluva lot.''

Flintoff's presence in the middle meant Murali was asked to send down a 14-over spell almost immediately after an initial burst of 22 overs off the reel either side of lunch, having delivered 46 overs in the drawn Test at Kandy on Sunday alone.

''His shoulder is sore because he only had two days to recover and it is a worry but he is currently OK,'' said Sri Lankan captain Hashan Tillekeratne.

''Flintoff doesn't read Murali that well, he has always been troubled by him.

''If it had been someone else at the crease I would have given him a longer rest but he had 25 minutes and that helped him.''

Murali finished the day with incredible figures of 37-20-38-3, restricting a run-rate which was haemorrhaging when he came on with England 75 without loss.

Marcus Trescothick, like Flintoff, had contributed nothing of real significance with the bat in the two draws which preceded this series decider, but altered that with a flurry of boundaries in the opening hour.

But a delivery of increased turn from Murali, the final ball before lunch, found its way to slip off the edge and England's momentum had been checked.

When Dilhara Fernando and Vaas removed Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain respectively, the latter to a contentious leg before decision, the tourists' middle-order was exposed and Murali chipped in with the prize scalp of Graham Thorpe.

Gareth Batty spent another 31 overs in company with Flintoff, before pulling a long-hop from Chandana straight to mid-wicket.

Ashley Giles' misjudgment over a single provided Sri Lanka with an eighth success.

James Kirtley acquitted himself for eight minutes alongside Chris Read, whose towering six off Chandana was the one moment of aggression in a watchful hour-and-a-half.

Vaughan failed to build on two chances at the head of the innings - a direct hit from Chandana's throw from square leg would have run him out and Marvan Atapattu put him down at backward point.

Vaughan nicked to slip soon after the drinks break and the first appearance of Murali with ball in hand