Kamindu Mendis hit the third century of his four-match test career to help steer Sri Lanka to a lead of 169 over England by lunch on Day 4, and into a winning position at Old Trafford.
The Sri Lankans were 291-6 in the first test on Saturday, with Mendis (101 not out) and Dinesh Chandimal (62 not out) having added 87 runs either side of a 30-minute rain delay in the wicketless first session.
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Mendis struck two centuries and 92 not out against Bangladesh in March and has continued that form at the start of the three-match series against the English, whose grip on the test in Manchester has slipped after taking a lead of 122 runs after the first innings.
England were without Mark Wood on Saturday because of a thigh injury sustained late on Day 3 and the seam attack lacked a cutting edge without its most hostile fast bowler.
The partnership between Chandimal and Mendis moved onto 101 and they weren’t perturbed by a brief stoppage because of a heavy downpour.