COLOMBO, Dec 9: England captain Michael Vaughan was furious with the umpires after Sri Lanka grabbed four wickets in the final session to scuttle his team’s confident start in the second Test here on Sunday.

Three unfortunate dismissals set England back by the end of an eventful day’s cricket.

Vaughan said television replays should have been called for after frontline batsman Kevin Pietersen was given out caught in controversial circumstances in the post-tea period.

Pietersen edged Chaminda Vaas to second slip where Chamara Silva dived to scoop the ball off the turf and Kumar Sangakkara at first slip caught the rebound.

Australian umpire Daryl Harper consulted with his square-leg colleague Aleem Dar before ruling the batsman out without seeking the help of replays, which showed the ball hit the ground before Silva scooped it up.

Pietersen, who saw the replay on the giant screen, stopped near the boundary line to see if the umpires would reverse their decision, but Harper once again raised his finger.

“You have got the technology and you are allowed to use it,” said Vaughan. “It’s very difficult to be 100 per cent sure all the time if a catch has carried.”

Vaughan, timing the ball superbly and looking set for his 18th century, fell against the run of play to give Sri Lanka a timely break midway through the afternoon session.

The batsman flicked Muttiah Muralitharan hard but the ball lodged between the knees of short-leg fielder Jehan Mubarak, who fell backwards by the impact but ensured the ball did not hit the ground.

Vaughan stood in disbelief at the crease for a brief while before walking off.

Left-handed Cook was unlucky to be declared leg-before by Harper off Malinga.

Replays indicated the ball would have missed leg stump and loud jeers rang out from 3,000 travelling English supporters who outnumbered local fans.

Malinga then yorked Ravi Bopara first ball to make England 237-5 before Paul Collingwood (49) and Prior (10) saw out the day.—AFP