When that time comes, Finn might be justified in fearing for his place.
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Sri Lanka’s 100 for three nearly became 100 for four when Mathews, on nought, edged Anderson just short of Root in the slips. However, in the final session, he was involved in a verbal exchange with Kaushal Silva.
Moeen had added just eight more to his 28 when he edged Nuwan Pradeep (four for 107) through the hands of Dimuth Karunaratne at gully.
Steven Finn has backed England to wrap up the series against Sri Lanka on Monday morning after the tourists frustrated Alastair Cook’s side on day three of the Second Test at Chester-le-Street.
Finn appeared to be a convenient scapegoat when England failed to press home their advantage and wrap-up victory inside three days at Durham.
Lahiru Thirimanne, who began the day at the crease in the first innings, returned to be dismissed for a second time, this time for 13 after falling to a handsome ball from Moeen Ali that drew him into the shot before clipping his stumps.
Stuart Broad finished with figures of four for 40 on the ground where he bowled England to Ashes series victory on his last Test visit three years ago.
Sri Lanka were now 222 for five, with more than 19 overs left before stumps. Shortly before Silva’s dismissal Mathews reached his own half century, from 63 balls, with six fours and a six. Chris Woakes then claimed 3-9 on his recall to the England side, sparking another capitulation from Sri Lanka.
All Woakes can do is make that decision as hard as possible for the selectors, and who knows, if he can continue taking wickets, he could even put pressure on players such as Steven Finn, who has looked short of his best rhythm in this series so far.
Finn struck for the first time, in his 18th over of the match, when Silva tried to farm runs leg-side but was undone by a little bounce from slightly the wrong line and steepled a catch off a leading edge to Bairstow.
It seems churlish to criticise anyone involved in a team that will nearly certainly complete a resounding series victory later today, but Finn’s place should be reassessed ahead of the final Test at Lord’s.
They are still odds on to complete a series win at some point on day four, but the fact that the game has lasted at least one day more than in Leeds is a win of sorts for the Sri Lankans.
Mathews continued to press on without him, but with the pitch beginning to show signs of deterioration, he perished with a century in sight.
A moment of brilliance from Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews – diving to his right to take a one-handed catch at slip – accounted for Hales when he edged a cut at Milinda Siriwardana, having just hit the slow left-armer over his head for six.
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They did eventually dismiss Woakes, who feathered a ball to substitute keeper Kusal Mendis off Suranga Lakmal, for 39 after a stand of 92 with Moeen.
