Sri Lanka were dismissed for 263 in reply to England’s first-innings 325, a deficit of 62 runs, on the third day of the third test at The Oval on Sunday.
The tourists resumed on 211-5 following a century stand between Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis – who both passed 50 – that revived the innings from the depths of 93-5.
But they lost their last five wickets before lunch on Sunday for 52 runs in 16.2 overs.
With improved overhead conditions on Sunday meaning England could deploy their fast bowlers without fear of the umpires halting play for bad light, De Silva (69) and Mendis (64) fell in quick succession.
England fast bowler Olly Stone took 3-35 in nine overs and debutant left-arm quick Josh Hull 3-53 in 11.
England are already 2-0 ahead in this three-match series.
England, who whitewashed the West Indies 3-0 earlier this season, are chasing their first home test clean sweep since 2004, when Michael Vaughan oversaw seven successive wins.
ENGLAND: Dan Lawrence, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (capt), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wkt), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone, Josh Hull, Shoaib Bashir
SRI LANKA: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal (wkt), Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kamindu Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando
Source: AFP
--Agencies
