Rain stopped play shortly before tea and day two was subsequently called off by the umpires with England at 186 for six wickets, having been a healthy 145-3 at lunch, replying to the hosts' first innings of 188.

Paul Collingwood was unbeaten on 14 and Ryan Sidebottom on one at close.

After lunch, Muralitharan broke a flourishing partnership of 38 between Kevin Pietersen and Collingwood when he trapped Pietersen lbw for 31 runs.

Later, he had Ravi Bopara caught by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene off a leg side edge to equal Warne's record tally of 708 wickets.

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior was then out caught at mid-wicket off Dilhara Fernando for a duck.

In the morning session, Ian Bell hit a stylish half-century and shared 107 runs with captain Michael Vaughan for the second wicket to help the visitors recover from losing opener Alastair Cook without any score on the board yesterday.

The pair dominated with elegant strokeplay until Vaughan (37) was dubiously adjudged caught bat and pad.