Sri Lanka's captain hits graceful unbeaten century but England put him down four times in field after early wobble by the hosts

Sri Lanka 289-8 England: Sri Lanka's captain hits graceful unbeaten century but England put him down four times in field after early wobble by the hosts

England made it two wins from two in Sri Lanka with an impressive fourth-innings chase only marred by concerns over Ravi Bopara's fitness and Ian Bell's form.

Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott compiled chanceless centuries on day two of England's pre-Test warm-up but Ian Bell's struggles continued on a flat pitch in Colombo.

Outside the charmingly ramshackle Sinhalese Sports Club ground yesterday a few dogs were spreadeagled on the pavement. They were presumably mad. There were a few Englishmen also out in the sun but that was because they had to be there after losing the toss to the Sri Lanka Development XI. A few unfamiliar things went on but nobody thought the wicketkeeper Matt Prior was crazy when he discarded his pads, so drenched in sweat were his flannels.

Sri Lanka Development XI 376-5 England

England suffered at the hands of centurion Chamara Silva on day one of their final pre-Test warm-up against a Sri Lankan Development XI.

Nothing confuses the issue quite like an England cricket captain. That was Andrew Strauss down by the pool at the team's Colombo hotel yesterday, back in charge and sounding it.

He says separate captains are not a problem as he looks to build on Cook's momentum for tour of Sri Lanka

Kevin Pietersen's continued good form helped England to a thrilling five-run victory and 2-1 Twenty20 series success over Pakistan to conclude their tough tour of the United Arab Emirates tonight.

England were today digesting the disappointment of their opening defeat in the three-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan, and planning already how they can come back to win 2-1.

England succumbed to Umar Gul in tonight's eight-run defeat, as Graeme Swann's career-best bowling again proved in vain against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

In many eyes, the real business of England's tour of the UAE starts tonight. With the irritating diversions of the Test and one-day series finally over it is at last time for the Twenty20 matches.

Pakistan 237 England 241-6 (England win by four wickets)