Cricket: Eng - Sl, 1st test: England starts well in reply to Sri Lanka 400

Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott resumed their prolific batting partnership from the Ashes as they led a solid England effort on another rain-shortened day in Cardiff. Play didn't start until 2pm after steady morning drizzle and initially the batsmen took a very cautious approach, but England's first target in this game is to ensure they don't encounter major problems and the second-wicket stand was a comfortable 101 by tea as they reached 148 for 2.

Despite the news that he won't bowl again in this Test, and is a serious doubt for Lord's, James Anderson resumed as nightwatchman. However, he didn't last long before jabbing Ajantha Mendis to slip with England having not added to their overnight total. Yet it didn't harm England's prospects as, unless a nightwatchman can score quickly, his presence tends to hold up the game and that wasn't what this match needed.

Instead, it allowed the two major batting stars of the Ashes to join forces again. It was a slow start as they got used to facing Mendis and refused to chase the succession of wide deliveries from the seamers, but steadily the runs began to flow. The first boundary of the day came with a Trott square drive in the 12th over of the session and it was actually the removal of Mendis from the attack that helped England increase the rate.

Rangana Herath struggled to settle into a consistent line as he offered Cook an opportunity to put away an early cut then Trott drove him through the covers. At the other end Thisara Perera was dispatched for consecutive boundaries by Cook although the first of those flew between second slip and gully off the edge.

Cook went to his fifty from 112 balls and Trott then began to catch him up with some trademark leg-side shots off the seamers who fell into the same trap as the Australians by bowling too straight. Trott was also gifted four extra runs when a direct hit at the stumps - with him well in his ground - flew to the boundary.

In the last over before tea the pair brought up their fourth hundred partnership in Tests and Trott was one run away from adding another fifty to his impressive international record.