Offspinner Moeen Ali struck twice in three deliveries as England completed a 57-run victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday's final day to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who had taken four wickets on Saturday, picked up the final Sri Lankan scalp in Pallekele for a maiden five-wicket haul in his third Test, with the hosts all out for 243.
Sri Lanka resumed at 7-226, needing 75 for victory, and kept the England spinners at bay for 15 minutes before Moeen dismissed Niroshan Dickwella, who was caught at slip by Ben Stokes for 35.
The offspinner then sent back Sri Lanka's stand-in captain Suranga Lakmal for a duck two deliveries later. Moeen finished with 4-72 while Leach had figures of 5-83.
Malinda Pushpakumara spooned a catch straight back to Leach, as England completed their first away series win in Tests since the beginning of 2016 in South Africa.
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It was also England's first series win in Asia since the 2012 triumph in India and their first in Sri Lanka since 2001.
"It was a brilliant Test match. We were very good for the whole game. At times, we were under pressure and we responded really well to that - couldn't be more proud of the guys," England captain Joe Root said.
Root was named player of the match for his 124 in the second innings that helped his team post a daunting 301-run target to chase.
Sri Lanka batted well in both innings but Sam Curran's stylish 64 in the first innings and Root's astounding knock under pressure in the second made the difference for England.
"Sri Lanka played brilliantly in both innings. At times, we lost clusters of wickets but we stayed very calm and managed to find ways to get back in the game and get the control back in our favour," Root added.
"We said we are going to come out here and play bold cricket, we were quite courageous at times and everyone's really bought into that. We are seeing the rewards now.
"We have to keep looking to improve. We have seen this team grow in the last six-eight months. We are not the finished article - we want to get to No.1 at some point.
"We have to be consistent to do that, in all parts of the world and on different surfaces."
With the Pallekele pitch assisting the slow bowlers, spinners dominated the match, taking 38 wickets.
Lakmal was the only seamer to pick up a wicket while the other was a run-out.
It was also the first time since 1973 in Karachi that no seamer had taken a wicket in a Test for England.
The third and final Test of the series will start on Friday in Colombo.
