It took England less than four overs to wrap up Sri Lanka’s first innings for a paltry 101 on the third morning at Chester-le-Street and the follow-on was swiftly enforced.
Stuart Broad struck in the first over when he found Suranga Lakmal’s outside edge - a 13th catch of the series for Jonny Baristow - and then James Anderson claimed the last wicket when Lahiru Thirimanne skied a slog to point having managed one club down the ground off the same bowler.
It meant England’s new-ball pair had shared another seven wickets, taking their series tally to 22 in three innings - Anderson’s 13 scalps coming at 6.23.
Sri Lanka became the first side since 1958 to be bowled out for under 120 in three consecutive innings. On that evidence, taking the Test into a fourth day appeared a long-shot for the out-classed visitors.
