Pietersen caught on the hop
Pietersen was embroiled in controversy late in the tourists’ 258 for five at SSC when he was given out caught via a slip-cordon ricochet after Chamara Silva scooped the ball up with his fingertips.
An edge off Chaminda Vaas flew low to second slip, Silva juggled above the turf and Kumar Sangakkara, stationed at first slip, grabbed it at ankle height at the third attempt.
Umpire Daryl Harper consulted colleague Aleem Dar as the Sri Lankans celebrated and gave Pietersen out, as official Test playing regulations state on-field officials make decisions on disputed catches unless they are unsighted.
TV replays cast doubt on the authenticity of the catch and Pietersen halted his trudge off the field at the edge of the square before Australian Harper raised his finger for a second time.
The incident led England captain Michael Vaughan, who struck a majestic 87, to call for a change in the referral system. “I just think common sense has to prevail in those kind of instances,” said Vaughan.
“If you’re not 100% sure — if you are 100% sure I find it very hard to believe — you really should use the technology that is available.”
On a day of unlucky dismissals, Vaughan departed after a 133-run opening stand with Alastair Cook when a flick to the leg-side off Muttiah Muralitharan hit short-leg Jehan Mubarak in the midriff and wedged in between his thighs as he fell backwards.
Left-hander Cook’s six-hour vigil, for 81, was ended when Harper adjudged him leg-before.
It came as a double blow when, in gathering gloom, Ravi Bopara was yorked with the next delivery.
Having won the toss and batted, Vaughan blasted 12 boundaries.
He reached 50 with a pull to fine-leg off Dilhara Fernando, the second of his three fours in the over, and scored 74 of England’s 97 runs before lunch.
Cook was only four overs shy of seeing things through to the close. Twice in the 40s, Cook survived narrow escapes before Malinga ended his innings lbw.
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