Pietersen hits stride for England

Kevin Pietersen hit form ahead of the first Test as England beat a Sri Lanka Cricket Board President's XI by five wickets

Pietersen, whose previous scores on the tour were four and one, struck a fluent half-century as England chased down their 246-run target in impressive manner.

Opener Alastair Cook also passed 50 on the final-day pursuit, the last action before the opening Test in Kandy, which begins on Saturday.

Fast bowler James Anderson returned to action to set up the victory bid while the news was also positive on England's other crocked paceman Steve Harmison - a scan showing no new injury to his back.

Anderson wrapped up the President's XI innings within five minutes on the final morning. Having been struck for a boundary square on the off-side, the 25-year-old followed up with a bouncer which followed Chanaka Welegedara and brushed the gloves on the way through to wicketkeeper Matt Prior, to terminate the hosts' second innings for 81.

Captain Michael Vaughan then raced out of the blocks but, having struck 28 out of a score of 50, he succumbed attacking Jehan Mubarak's gentle medium pace, advancing down the pitch to hit straight the ball sliced off the bat straight to point.

Ian Bell also perished in attack mode when, in going aerial against off-spinner Tillekaratne Dilshan, he mishit to deep mid-on.

Moments after Cook brought up a 96-ball 50, Pietersen reverse-swept a six over point off Dilshan.

Pietersen timed the ball impressively, hitting five other boundaries in a polished 59, before under-edging a cut at Chamara Kapugedera, shortly after Cook's demise leg-before sweeping for the second time in the contest.

Although Ravi Bopara fell to a scooped return catch to Mubarak in the final session, the pace of the chase continued unabated and Matt Prior finished things with consecutive swept fours in the 61st over.