JAMES Anderson was a class apart on his return to the England side, but a century from Angelo Mathews made it a fair fight on day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka.

Anderson traded places with Stuart Broad as England looked to make it two wins from two in Galle, and he got the better of the home side's top order on what was a batsman's pitch.

The 38-year-old claimed 3-24 on a surface that offered precious little encouragement, with spinners Dom Bess and Jack Leach struggling to make any impression despite sharing 40 overs.

Sri Lanka will be happy to have reached 229-4 by the close of play, having been reduced to 7-2 early on, with Mathews providing the necessary steel.

Kusal Perera and Oshada Fernando were Anderson's early victims, leaving Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne to repair the damage.

That they did, adding 69 runs before lunch as Bess and Leach toiled in the heat.

Anderson was the man to make the breakthrough again, having Thirimanne (43) caught behind by Jos Buttler.

Dinesh Chandimal took the fight to England's bowlers, launching Bess for a big six, and it fell to Mark Wood to force the issue.

He answered the call for pace, and eventually trapped Chandimal (52) lbw to leave the hosts on 193-4.

Mathews was not going anywhere, though, and eased to three figures as Leach (0-66 off 22 overs) offered a handful of low-risk singles.

Seven overs with the new ball brought no change in England's fortunes, as Mathews (107*) and Niroshan Dickwella (19*) made it to 229-4 by the close.