ESSEX seamer Aaron Beard ensured Sri Lanka experienced a challenging opening day to their tour of England with an impressive first-class debut at Chelmsford.

The 18-year-old returned figures of four for 62 from 16 overs to help dismiss the tourists, playing the first of two warm-up matches before the opening Test against England at Headingley on May 19, for 254 after Angelo Mathews won the toss.

Kusal Mendis enjoyed some time in the middle, making 66 from number three, and Niroshan Dickwella provided some lower-order resistance with 53.

But Jaik Mickleburgh's unbeaten 42 on his first appearance of the season moved Essex into a solid position on 81 for two at stumps.

Beard, who as a 15-year-old filled in as 12th man for England during a 2013 Ashes warm-up match versus Essex, removed Sri Lanka's openers in his first two overs.

The right-arm seamer had Kaushal Silva caught behind with his fourth ball before trapping Dimuth Karunaratne lbw with the score on 16.

Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal led a recovery with a 88-run second-wicket stand until the latter edged Jesse Ryder to second slip.

Beard returned to the attack to trigger an afternoon collapse of three wickets for 28 runs, having Mendis caught behind and then rearranging Milinda Siriwardana's furniture, while Ryder trapped Dhananjaya de Silva lbw.

Skipper Mathews contributed 30, adding 52 for the seventh wicket with Dickwella, but was the victim of a fine catch by Thomas Moore at mid-off off Ravi Bopara's medium pace.

Although Dickwella struck six fours and two maximums in a 69-ball cameo, Moore cleaned up the tail to claim three for 48.

Nick Browne and Mickleburgh put on 78 for the first wicket, but Sri Lanka rallied late on in the day when Dhammika Prasad trapped Browne lbw for 28 and Shaminda Eranga bowled nightwatchman Moore.