Sri Lanka was three wickets from victory in the face of stubborn England batting led by the unbeaten Moeen Ali at tea on the fifth day of the second cricket Test.

Sri Lanka, wicketless in the rain-shortened morning session, took two wickets after lunch, that of Joe Root for 31 and Matt Prior for 10, the latter giving fast bowler Dhammika Prasad the first five-for of his late-blooming career.

England was 7-173, batting for a draw at Headingley with the winning target of 350 long forgotten.

Ali, who joined Root at the start of the day with England 5-57 overnight, was also amidst a career-best achievement, at 56 not out in his second test.

Ali has endured 162 balls and hit eight boundaries in his maiden Test half century. He scored 48 in the first-test draw at Lord’s.

He was ensuring Sri Lanka wouldn’t cruise to a victory which would give Sri Lanka its first series win in England.

Root, six overnight, made it to 31 off 108 deliveries before edging Nuwan Pradeep to Lahiru Thirimanne at gully for the first wicket of the day, breaking a stubborn partnership with Ali of 67 from 186 deliveries.

Prasad dismissed Prior for 10 with a bouncer he could fend only to Kaushal Silva at short-leg.

There was a review to check for a no ball, and Prasad’s heel was judged to be fractionally behind the line.

Surrounded by his teammates, he yelled in delight when the TV umpire confirmed the wicket was his. He had 5-39.

Ali brought up his half century with a single through mid-wicket off Rangana Herath. Chris Jordan was with him on nine.