England collapses before Jamie Smith launches an exciting counterattack

After taking a 62-run first-innings lead at the Kia Oval, England found themselves in trouble as the tourists reduced their lead to 82 for seven.

The ruthlessness of the front row and a much improved bowling performance in the afternoon turned the game on its head before Smith launched a one-man attack.

Undeterred by the pressure of the scoreboard, he produced a brilliant riposte from shot number six, scoring 67 from 50 balls, including ten fours and a six.

In another dramatic twist, he was out until the last ball before tea, giving England a 140-8 lead with a 202-point lead.

The day began with England taking Sri Lanka's last five wickets for 52, taking the country's total to 263. Debutant Josh Hull took two more, while he and Olly Stone finished with three wickets each.

England had the opportunity to knock their opponents out of the game, but showed the same carelessness that earned them harsh words from former captains Michael Vaughan and Sir Alastair Cook on the second day.

They lost two of their top three players in a half-hour window before lunch: Ben Duckett hit an errant shot to the mid-on line and Ollie Pope followed up his first-innings century by carrying on with a loose swing of his bat.

They went into the break with a lead of 97 points, but as Sri Lanka increased the pressure, their position became clearly vulnerable.

Dan Lawrence (35) has been at bat longer than anyone else but lacked the tools to anchor his side. He began the afternoon session in fifth gear, leaving all three stumps free as he tried to clear the leg side and somehow avoid being bowled by the narrowest of margins.

A massive six over long-off showed him in a better light, but ambition soon got the better of him as he swung angrily at a ball that bounced and clipped the edge. Kumara celebrated emphatically, perhaps insulted by the showy nature of the shot, and Lawrence added a bruised finger to his bruised ego as he slammed his bat on the ground in disgust.

Root's presence should have reassured England and business as usual seemed to have resumed when he overtook Kumar Sangakkara as the sixth-highest run-scorer in Test history with a superb cover drive.

Only Sir Alastair Cook stands between him and a place in the top five, but that will have to wait until next month's tour of Pakistan after Fernando surprised him with an inside-swept yorker.

The ball bounced off his front foot and a hopeful DRS call confirmed his fate. With their cornerback gone, there was a chance for Sri Lanka and Fernando powered his way through.

Like Root, Harry Brook was a moment too late to take one that came through the air and slammed into the front brake pads. Like Root, he burned a review on his way.

Chris Woakes was caught behind the basket by Kumara and although the injury to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal gave England a chance to catch their breath, the problems continued. Gus Atkinson, who was unable to bowl in the morning due to a hamstring injury, was caught just in front of the basket by Milan Rathnayake.

Smith had seen enough and lifted the spirits in the stands with a handful of increasingly daring shots. After seeing a leading edge narrowly elude the man at mid-off, he bagged 52 from just 17 deliveries.

Rathnayake suffered the most, getting battered to the ground as he went full-on, and hitting six punches as he pulled his length back. Some punches were pure timing, others brute power, but it was a heady mix.

Stone had contributed just five to a partnership of 58 when Smith switched to T20 mode, but the fun ended when he blasted Fernando straight to midwicket just seconds before tea break.