For the first time in the series, the Sri Lankan batsmen were the source of some frustration to the England bowling attack on day three of the second Test in Durham.
Having earlier been bowled out for just 101 chasing the home side's first-innings score of 498-9 declared, Sri Lanka were inevitably made to follow on in the anticipation that they would crumble once again before the close of play.
However, when stumps was called by the umpires in the North-East, the tourists had managed to put 309 runs on the board for the loss of five wickets, leaving them 88 adrift of England.
Half-centuries from Kaushal Silva (60), Angelo Mathews (80) and Dinesh Chandimal (54) provided much of the resistance, with the latter unbeaten alongside Milinda Siriwardana (35) at the crease.
As for England, James Anderson spearheaded the fight with two wickets, while Chris Woakes, Steven Finn and Moeen Ali helped themselves to one apiece.
