London: Sajid Mahmood celebrated his Test debut with three wickets in nine balls on Friday to put England into a winning position after only two days of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's.
Bowling with genuine pace from the Nursery End after Sri Lanka had begun the long pursuit of England's first innings 551 for six declared Mahmood cut through the middle order to reduce the visitors to 91 for six when bad light stopped play early.
England's innings was anchored by Kevin Pietersen, who subdued his attacking instincts to compile 158 in exactly five hours of mostly patient application.
Pietersen is one of a growing number of young England players who have adapted instantly to the demands of Test cricket while on the evidence of Friday's final session Mahmood may be another.
The cousin of Britain's Olympic lightweight boxing silver medallist Amir Khan was fast, dangerous and accurate with a relaxed runup, fine high action and the ability to reverse swing the ball.
"It was fantastic to see him reverse swing," Pietersen later said.
"We have the strength in depth now." Matthew Hoggard, moving the ball down the slope from the same end, opened the England offensive by winning LBW decisions against the left-handed opening pair of Jehan Mubarak (0) and Upal Tharanga (10).
Skipper Mahela Jayawardene and wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara steadied the innings and took the total to 81 before England captain Andrew Flintoff handed the ball to Mahmood.
Mahmood responded by inducing a loose shot from Sangakkara (21), who smacked his pads in anger after steering the ball straight to Marcus Trescothick at first slip.
Thilan Samaraweera fell LBW without scoring as did debutant Chamara Kapugedera, who was out first ball when a full toss struck him on the front pad.
Tillekeratne Dilshan ran himself out, also without scoring, after a horrible mixup with Jaywardene who was himself lucky to remain at the crease after he was dropped by on 34 off Flintoff by Geraint Jones.
Earlier Pietersen, who resumed on 54 in the England overnight total of 318 for three, has a particular relish for London's two great Test arenas.
He scored 57 and 64 not out on debut during a losing cause in the first Test against Australia at Lord's last year than at the other end of an astonishing summer ensured England regained the Ashes with 158 at the Oval.
Friday's innings was radically different from that extraordinary assault.
"The situation wasn't the same as the Oval," he said.
"I didn't go out and spray it to all parts. I think I cultivated a pretty good, sensible innings."
Pietersen lost nightwatchman Hoggard for seven runs but found an ideal partner in Paul Collingwood, a tough character with no intention of relinquishing the test spot he has fought so hard to win.
Collingwood's first scoring shot was a reflex four through the slips of Chaminda Vaas.
He played a more convincing shot off the backfoot of the persevering left-arm paceman before applying himself to the special problems posed by Muttiah Muralitharan.
Muralitharan took two of the three wickets to fall on Thursday and on Friday he was back in harness within the first hour from the Pavilion End.
Pietersen brought up his century by guiding Muralitharan through the vacant slip position for four and 10 runs later passed 1,000 runs in test cricket.
He was given a life on 138 when an attempted sweep off Muralitharan struck his gloves and lobbed over the wicket-keeper.
Jaywardene ran around from short fine leg and dived for the ball but was unable to hang on to the catch.
A wristy on-drive off a Vaas full toss took Pietersen to 158 but he was out immediately afterwards when he was struck on his pads in front of the stumps.
Collingwood followed five balls later, bowled by Muralitharan for 57 and Flintoff helped himself to two sixes in a an unbeaten 33 before declaring 20 minutes before the scheduled tea interval.
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