England clinch draw

2nd Test, Kandy: England 294 & 285-7 drew with Sri Lanka 382 & 279-7 dec

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Michael Vaughan hit an inspirational century as England batted through the entire final day for their second successive drawn Test in Sri Lanka.

Vaughan batted for six-and-a-half hours to make 105 - his first ton as captain - and Chris Read and Gareth Batty saw out the last 86 minutes.

Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan bowled 40 overs in the day, claiming 4-64, but could not complete the job.

Vaughan shared vital partnerships with Graham Thorpe and Paul Collingwood.

It's without a doubt the toughest hundred I've ever got Michael Vaughan More England reaction

The Yorkshire batsman faced 333 deliveries, hitting 11 boundaries on the way to his 10th, and most vital, Test century.

England endured a nightmare start, when Nasser Hussain chased Chaminda Vaas's fourth ball to wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara.

But Sri Lanka failed to apply the killer blow, leaving fielders out to save runs even though the tourists had no intention of scoring the 368 they needed for victory.

I will make sure our boys behave very well during the next Test match Hashan Tillakaratne More Sri Lanka reaction

Captain Hashan Tillakaratane waited until there were 12 overs remaining in the day before placing five fielders in catching positions.

Thorpe was allowed to settle easily into a stand of 77 with his captain that filled the morning.

The left-hander was given out for 41 in the first over after lunch, although he got nowhere near a Muralitharan off-break that was claimed by Sangakkara as an edge.

Hussain was dismissed in the first over of the day

But Collingwood helped put on 41 more runs with similar ease, facing 64 deliveries and making good use of the pad on his way to 24, as the home side became increasingly desperate.

At one point umpire Daryl Harper issued warnings to several of the close fielders for excessive appealing.

However, just as the game seemed to be losing its focus with six overs to go before lunch, Collingwood edged to slip looking to work Kumara Dharmasena's straighter ball through midwicket.

On the face of it, a fair result. Raw talent vs Gritty determination - nil nil, off to Colombo, game on! From Stardust Have your say on TMS

Andrew Flintoff suppressed his naturally aggressive tendencies but was trapped lbw on the back foot by Muralitharan when he had made 19.

However, Read and Batty saw England through to safety in fading light, taking their time between overs to make sure they faced the minimum number of deliveries, and barely scoring in the last hour.

With the series still tied 0-0, there is all to play for in the final Test, which begins in Colombo on Thursday.

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Sri Lanka: Hashan Tillakaratne (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Kumara Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Dinusha Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan.

England: Michael Vaughan (capt), Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Graham Thorpe, Andrew Flintoff, Nasser Hussain, Paul Collingwood, Chris Read, Ashley Giles, Gareth Batty, James Kirtley.