England wrap up Test victory

England took a 1-0 lead in the npower series against Sri Lanka after a six-wicket win in the second Test at Edgbaston.

Set 78 to win after Sri Lanka folded on the fourth morning, openers Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood all fell to master spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

But Alastair Cook guided England to their modest target with an unbeaten 34.

Youngster Liam Plunkett earlier struck three times and captain Andrew Flintoff twice as Sri Lanka lost their last five second-innings wickets in as many overs, much as England had on Friday.

It took 55 minutes to separate overnight pair Michael Vandort and Farveez Maharoof.

Flintoff struck with the second ball of a new spell from the city end when Maharoof was tucked up by a short delivery and popped up the simplest of return catches.

That was only the second wicket for England in 72 overs as the Sri Lankans revived memories of their battling effort at Lord's, which saved the opening Test of the summer.

On that occasion Sri Lanka lasted 199 overs without being dismissed and Vandort, recalled in Birmingham, led this effort with a plucky hundred.

However, Plunkett - recovered from a sore right shoulder - profited from a slash to gully from Chaminda Vaas and Collingwood got his second catch in succession moments later when the ball looped to him off the shoulder of Nuwan Kulasekera's bat.

An edge flew to Strauss at second slip to give Flintoff a second success and Plunkett accounted for Vandort, last out when he nicked behind, as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 231.