And having gone into it hoping to secure what would be their first perfect home summer for 20 years with a sixth successive win, Sri Lanka are now poised to deny them full marks.
Things were shaping up that way at the end of a white-knuckle third day in which 16 wickets fell and the pendulum swung the way of the tourists.
Inspired by Vishwa Fernando's left-arm swing and a four-wicket haul from Lahiru Kumura, Sri Lanka turned a first-innings deficit of 62 into a pursuit of 219 that was within striking distance by stumps. Bad light had once again brought an early close and for England, 156 all out in 34 overs earlier, and staring at 94 for one on the digital scoreboard that was twinkling in the gloom, this call by the umpires to come back in the morning was a sweet relief.
England had been rescued by Jamie Smith's eye-catching 67 with the tail but then ran into an opener who was not mucking about. Feasting on a leggy attack that had Gus Atkinson attempting to power through a thigh strain, Pathum Nissanka raided an unbeaten 53 from 44 balls. With Kusal Mendis racing to 30 not out, Sri Lanka were dreaming overnight of a first Test win on English soil for 10 years.
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