London, May 15: Tailenders Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Kulasekara gave Sri Lanka hope of engineering one of the great escapes in Test history and a chance of one of its most astonishing wins with an unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 89 on the final day of the first Test at Lord’s here on Monday.

At tea Sri Lanka, on the backfoot for most of this match, were 510/8, a lead of 151, after being made to follow-on in reply to England’s first innings 551/6 declared. Vaas was 34 not out and the 23-year-old Kulasekara, in only his third match at this level, a Test-best 55 not out as England were yet again left to rue a dropped catch.

Only off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who could yet play a decisive role with the ball, remained to bat in an innings that had already lasted nearly 13 hours.

History was against Sri Lanka as only three times in the 129-year-history of Test cricket had a team won after following-on, with Australia the losing side on each occasion against England at Sydney in 1894/95 (lost by 10 runs), England again at Headingley in 1981 (12 runs) and India at Calcutta (Kolkata) in 2000/01 (171 runs).

And with a minimum of 47 overs left, there was still time for England to chase a victory target. However, after rain had delayed the start and forced an early lunch, grey skies overhead meant the weather might have the final say in the opening match of this three-Test series. Sri Lanka had been just 62 runs ahead when they lost their eighth wicket before Vaas and fellow quick Kulasekara came together.

England didn’t help themselves by once more dropping a catch with Alastair Cook, in the gully, putting down a routine chance from Kulasekara, on 14, off debutant Sajid Mahmood, with the total on 449. It was Cook’s second drop of the match and England’s eighth in total. Kulasekara stylishy drove Sajid Mahmood to the cover-boundary as Sri Lanka went past their previous best ninth-wicket stand against England of 83, set by Hashan Tillekeratne and Muralitharan at Colombo in 1992/93.

England captain Andrew Flintoff, formulaic in his field-settings, didn’t bring left-arm spinner Monty Panesar on until the 29th over of the day.

Kulasekara, looking increasingly assured against the quicks, then swept Panesar for six before repeating the stroke to go to a 92-ball fifty as Sri Lanka reached 500. Sri Lanka resumed Monday on 381/6. Dilshan was 39 not out and Chamara Kapugedera unbeaten on five. England, who’d dropped slip catches on Sunday, put down another in Monday’s third over when debutant Kapugedera edged Matthew Hoggard and Flintoff, at second slip, floored the chance despite getting both hands to the ball.

Fortunately for England, Kapugedera did not make the most of his reprieve, caught behind off a top-edge hook for 10 off Flintoff.

Scores (at tea): England 551/6 decl. vs Sri Lanka 192 & 510/8 (Dilshan 69, Kulasekara 55 n.o., Panesar 2/49, Flintoff 2/124)