Sri Lanka stumble in 2nd innings, England on verge of winning first Test

England was closing in on victory against Sri Lanka in the first test Friday after reducing the tourists to 107-4 in their second innings.

The Sri Lankans still trailed England by 15 runs and might only have five wickets left, with Dinesh Chandimal taken to the hospital after being forced to retire hurt following a blow to his right thumb off a quick delivery by Mark Wood.

England took a 122-run lead after the first innings thanks to a maiden test century by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, whose 111 helped the hosts post 358 all out after resuming Day 3 on 259-6.

Sri Lanka slumped to 6-3 in its first innings and didn't start its second innings any better after being 2-1 following the departures of Nishan Madushka and Kusal Mendis for ducks before lunch.

Dimuth Karunaratne was the first to go in the second session when he was outdone by the pace of Wood off his very first ball and nicked an inside edge onto his body and up to Harry Brook at second slip for 27.

Chandimal looked in pain