Marcus Trescothick has hit his fourth Test half-century but England, bidding to reach the follow-on target of 271, lost three wickets early in the afternoon session to leave them on 117 for three against Sri Lanka at Galle.

After Trescothick and Michael Atherton had defied the bowlers throughout the morning, Sri Lanka turned the tables on the visitors after lunch.

Atherton was dismissed without adding to his lunchtime score of 33. Having survived one vehement appeal for leg before already in the over, he was caught on the crease and trapped lbw by Chaminda Vaas with the third ball after lunch. It ended a first-wicket partnership of 83.

Captain Nasser Hussain departed seven overs later for just three. He was also trapped lbw, this time by Muttiah Muralitharan. Although the off break spun back sharply Hussain had gone right back on to his stumps and Umpire Jayaprakesh gave him out after a few seconds' consideration to leave England on 93 for two.

Worse was to come for the visitors when Muralitharan struck again to remove Graham Thorpe for seven. The Surrey left-hander pushed forward and the ball caught the outside edge to give Tillakaratne Dilshan a catch in the slips.

Trescothick, however, was looking mightily impressive. He has opted to play Muralitharan from the crease and has moved backwards and forwards with conviction. He has been particularly strong off his legs. Trescothick's fifty took him 166 balls and 201 minutes.

In the morning session Muralitharan bowled 15 overs from the Fort End. After a tentative start he settled down and bowled well and could have claimed the wickets of both openers.

Trescothick could have been caught and bowled in the 27th over when he tried to push a delivery that stopped and offered a looping return catch. The off spinner, however, set off hesitantly to his right and despite a desperate one-handed attempt, he failed to clasp the catch.

Then, in the 31st over, Atherton propped forward to an off spinner that looked to come off bat and pad, but was dropped by Mahela Jayawardene at silly point.

Muralitharan and Vaas apart, the Sri Lankan bowlers had not looked like getting wickets on a surface that is deathly slow in pace and increasingly low in bounce.

Dharmasena bowled better than last night but did not spin the ball a great deal, and Sanath Jayasuriya, who replaced Dharmasena from the City End, was hit for two leg-side boundaries by Trescothick in his four-over burst.

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