England have overcame a top-order collapse to reach 7-210, an overall lead of 306 runs, at tea on day three of their third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Chasing a series sweep, the tourists slumped to 4-39 in the first hour before Jos Buttler made 64 and added 89 runs with Ben Stokes to steady the innings at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
At tea, wicketkeeper Ben Foakes was unbeaten on 20 with Adil Rashid on 21 after the tourists had enjoyed a 100-run session.
Resuming on 3-0 and with an overall lead of 99, England lost Keaton Jennings leg before for one off the first delivery of the day from Dilruwan Perera (4-74), which seemed to unhinge their top order.
The off-spinner dismissed Rory Burns for seven in an identical manner and substitute fielder Kaushal Silva took a sharp catch at short leg to dismiss Jonny Bairstow, who followed his first innings 110 with 15.
England's crisis deepened when captain Joe Root offered a return catch to Malinda Pushpakumara to depart for seven before Sri Lankan sloppiness and a solid middle order partnership.
Buttler had reached 27 when judged leg-before to Dhananjaya de Silva but managed to overturn the decision after replays confirmed the ball would have sailed over the stumps.
Stokes had a more fortuitous stay before being finally dismissed for a vital 42.
The all-rounder was first caught at cover for 22 and then in the slip after adding 10 more runs but survived both times after replays confirmed spinner Lakshan Sandakan overstepped.
The wrist-spinner went on to dismiss Buttler but the hosts looked demoralised after his no-ball nightmares allowed England's overall lead to swell towards an almost impossible target.
