Alex Hales edges England towards victory in third Test

England remain in control of the third Test at Lord's after a half-century from Alex Hales on day four extended the hosts' lead over Sri Lanka.

Play was delayed by rain until the afternoon before Hales resumed with nightwatchman Steven Finn and, although the Middlesex seamer was dismissed for seven, he and Alastair Cook set about building towards a declaration.

© AFP

The pair put on 82 and took England's advantage past 300, but Hales was dismissed six short of a first Test century at Lord's when he was trapped lbw by Sri Lanka captain Angelo Matthews.

However, after a further rain delay, Cook appeared to change tack, hitting boundaries and scoop shots to eke out as many runs as possible.

He eventually declared with Sri Lanka needing 362 runs, but more importantly to see out the final 12 overs of the day.

Led by Stuart Broad and James Anderson, the hosts huffed and puffed in the late spell, but were unable to breakthrough the defences of openers Kaushal Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne before stumps as the tourists ended the day on 32-0.