LAHIRU Thirimanne’s unbeaten 76 frustrated England as Sri Lanka fought back on the third day of the first Test in Galle.
Bowled out for 135 in the first innings, Sri Lanka showed great spirit to reach 156-2 – trailing by 130 – after England had posted 421.
Joe Root progressed to a magnificent fourth Test double-century before he was last man out for 228 as England lost their last six wickets for 49 runs.
Sam Curran and Jack Leach took a wicket apiece in Sri Lanka’s second innings, but off-spinner Dom Bess rarely threatened on a pitch that has offered assistance to spin since day one.
Kusal Perera contributed 62 an opening stand of 101 with the patient Thirimanne, who was dropped on 51 by Dom Sibley at gully, as he compiled his highest Test score since 2013.
The left-hander will resume alongside nightwatchman Lasith Embuldeniya at 04:15 GMT today.
England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who tested positive for coronavirus upon arrival in Sri Lanka, spent time at the ground in the afternoon, after finishing his quarantine period.

Sri Lanka show character
For the first time in two years, England failed to take a wicket in the first 30 overs – with seamers Curran, Stuart Broad and Mark Wood finding the going tough given the minimal swing or seam movement on offer.
However, credit must be paid to the Sri Lanka openers. Thirimanne and Perera were criticised for their first-innings failures, but their century-stand was the first time in six Tests that a Sri Lanka opening pair had survived longer than 10 overs.
Perera showed restraint – he scored at a strike-rate of 57, compared to 74 over his Test career – but hit Leach over mid-wicket for six and swept and also drove well before slapping a Curran long hop to wide third man.
Thirimanne, who averaged 22 in 70 Test innings before this match, was happy to play second fiddle to Perera, although he did find the leg-side boundary with flicks and sweeps.
Having taken 5-30 in the first innings, Bess failed to maintain a consistent length and allowed Thirimanne and Perera to play off the back foot too often.
Left-arm spinner Leach, who bowled more accurately, failed with a review for lbw against Thirimanne on 61 before having Kusal Mendis caught behind off a beautiful delivery that turned and bounced in what proved to be the penultimate over of the day.

Root doubles up
Resuming on 168, Root reached his fourth Test double-century with the minimum of fuss.
He showed more intent than on day two – when he was happy for debutant Dan Lawrence to take more risks – hitting the third ball of the day to the cover boundary before driving down the ground for six.
It was almost fitting that Root reached 200 with a sweep for four – it was a productive shot throughout his innings, with 88 runs coming via sweeps and reverse sweeps.
In his 321-ball innings Root became the eighth Englishman to pass 8 000 Test runs – in 178 innings, two more than Kevin Pietersen, who holds the record.
England passed 400 in the first innings for the sixth time in their past 12 Tests, having failed to do so in their previous 23.
But they lost their last six wickets in 13 overs as they chased quick runs, possibly with an eye on the rain forecast later in the game.
Sri Lanka were much more disciplined than on the previous two days, with pace bowler Asitha Fernando impressing, while off-spinner Dilruwan Perera mopped up the tail to finish with 4-109. (BBC Sport)

SRI LANKA 1st innings 135
ENGLAND 1st innings
Zak Crawley c Wanindu Hasaranga b Lasith Embuldeniya 9
Dominic Sibley c Lahiru Thirimanne b Lasith Embuldeniya 4
Jonny Bairstow c Kusal Mendis b Lasith Embuldeniya 47
Joe Root c Lasith Embuldeniya b Dilruwan Perera 228
Dan Lawrence c Kusal Mendis b Dilruwan Perera 73
Jos Buttler c Niroshan Dickwella b Asitha Fernando 30
Sam Curran b Asitha Fernando 0
Dom Bess run-out (sub) 0
Jack Leach lbw Dilruwan Perera 4
Mark Wood c Niroshan Dickwella b Dilruwan Perera 2
Stuart Broad not out 11
Extras: (b-7, nb-6) 13
Total: (all out, 117.1 overs) 421
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-17, 3-131, 4-304, 5-372, 6-372, 7-382 s, 8-398, 9-406,
Bowling: Lasith Embuldeniya 45-4-176-3 (nb-2), Asitha Fernando 14-1-44-2, Wanindu Hasaranga 15-1-63-0 (nb)-2), Dilruwan Perera 36.1-2-109-4 (nb-2)..
SRI LANKA 2nd innings
Kusal Perera c Jack Leach b Sam Curran 62
Lahiru Thirimanne not out 76
Kusal Mendis c Jos Buttler b Jack Leach 15
Lasith Embuldeniya not out 0
Extras: (b-1, nb-2) 3
Total: (two wkts, 61.0 overs) 156
Fall of wickets: 1-101, 2-155.
Bowling: Stuart Broad 8-6-3, Sam Curran 7-0-25- 1 (nb-1), Dom Bess 13-2-30-0, Mark Wood 7-1- 20-0, Jack Leach 20-2-67-1 (nb-1) Joe Root 6-0-10-0.