Spinners put England on the brink
Spinners led by Jack Leach helped England close in on a series-clinching victory after Sri Lanka lost a fighting Angelo Mathews for 88 in the second Test on Saturday before rain stopped play.
Moeen Ali trapped Mathews lbw in the first over after tea to end the senior batsman's solid resistance that had kept alive Sri Lanka's hopes of chasing down a target of 301.
Leach struck soon to get Dilruwan Perera for one when torrential rain halted proceedings for the day with Sri Lanka on 226 for seven in Kandy.
The hosts, who trail the three-match series 0-1, need another 75 to win with three wickets and three sessions in hand. Niroshan Dickwella was batting on 27 when play was stopped.
Leach has claimed four wickets with his left-arm orthodox spin while Ali has taken two on a turning pitch.
Mathews, who hit his third half-century of the series, took crease with Sri Lanka on a shaky 26 for 3.
The former captain played a gritty innings that lasted 137 deliveries and also built crucial partnerships.
England, who had resumed the day on 324 for 9, stretched their second innings lead to 300 with overnight batsman Ben Foakes hitting an unbeaten 65.
SCORES IN BRIEF
ENGLAND: First innings 290
SRI LANKA: First innings 336
ENGLAND: Second innings 346 (Burns 59, Root 124, Buttler 34, Foakes 65 not out; Perera 3-96, Dananjaya 6-115)
SRI LANKA: Secpnd innings 226 for 7 (Karunaratne 57, Mathews 88, Silva 37, Dickwella 27 not out; Leach 4-73, Ali 2-65)
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