KP stars in England win

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Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen both hit half-centuries as England scored a morale-boosting five-wicket victory over the Sri Lanka Cricket Board President's XI on Tuesday.

Owais Shah and Matt Prior took England over the line, chasing 246 for victory on the final day of the three-match contest, and there was also good news on the injury front.

Steve Harmison has been declared fit to return to training after struggling with back spasms, and James Anderson also returned from his ankle injury to take the wicket of Chanaka Welegedara in the first full over of the day.

That meant the hosts added just four to their overnight total of 77 and left England with the rest of the day to chase for victory.

Foundations

Cook and Vaughan (28) put on 50 for the first wicket before the skipper succumbed attempting to drive Jehan Mubarak's gentle medium pace.

The ball sliced off the outside half of Vaughan's blade though, and he was caught at point by Tillekaratne Dilshan.

Ian Bell (six) then followed his captain back to the pavilion holing out to deep mid-on attempting to attack off-spinner Dilshan.

But that wicket brought Pietersen to the crease and in tandem with Cook he made his way to a fluent half-century.

Essex opener Cook brought up his 96-ball 50 first, whilst his Hampshire counterpart smashed six boundaries with a reverse-sweep for six the highlight.

Finish line

The number four batsman eventually fell for 59 under-edging a cut to Chamara Kapugedera and Cook followed him after being adjudged lbw for 58 attempting to sweep.

But Owais Shah and Ravi Bopara, who are both battling it out for the sixth batting spot in the first Test, took England to tea on 196 for four.

Despite the all-rounder's dismissal caught and bowled off Mubarak for 21, Prior and Shah combined for an unbeaten partnership of 37 to take England to victory.

The victory is a big boost for England ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka, which starts in Kandy on Saturday.