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Ollie Pope extended his maiden century as England captain but his side collapsed again against Sri Lanka on the second day of the third Test at the Oval on Saturday.
England, already leading 2-0 in the three-match series, resumed with a score of 221-3.
But they lost their last six wickets for 35 runs and were dismissed for 325 before lunch, with Pope out for 154.
Fast bowler Milan Rathnayake took 3-56 and Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva 2-18, with the tourists 1-0 up from the only over before half-time.
England, who swept aside the West Indies 3-0 earlier this season, are seeking their first home Test match since 2004 when Michael Vaughan oversaw seven consecutive wins.
Pope, 103 not out tonight, had scored just 30 runs in the previous four innings since taking over from the injured Ben Stokes as captain at the start of this series.
Sri Lanka’s four-man fast-paced attack failed to make the most of overcast conditions and a green-tinged pitch with a succession of wayward deliveries on Friday.
Lahiru Kumara, however, immediately settled into a more disciplined line and length on another dark morning illuminated by the floodlights at the Oval.
With just the fourth ball of the day, Kumara saw Harry Brook caught behind.
But the batsman, who had added just two runs to his eight on the night, immediately reviewed umpire Joel Wilson’s decision and replays showed no advantage.
Brook, however, should have been out for 12 minutes when a slanted shot from Rathnayake flew towards deep point but Asitha Fernando let the ball slip through his hands.
Three balls later, Rathnayake was further frustrated when Pope hit an outswinger between second slip and gully.
Rathanyake’s luck ran out however when Brook was out for a frenetic 19, with a diving Kamindu Mendis holding an excellent catch at short cover after a well-struck drive.
It was the end of a 70-run partnership between Pope and Brook, with England now at 261-4.
Pope was then given lbw to Vishwa Fernando on 139, but his review showed that the left-arm fast delivery had been bowled just outside leg stump.
De Silva’s decision to deploy his soft off-spin was rewarded with the cheap wickets of Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson, fresh from a maiden hundred in the second Test at Lord’s.
Pope then contributed to his own dismissal as England lost their fourth wicket in six overs, hitting left-hander Vishwa Fernando straight to deep square leg to end a 156-ball innings that included 19 fours and two sixes.
Rathnayake wrapped up the innings by removing last man Shoaib Bashir, with Sri Lanka knowing that if they had played as well on Friday, England could have been in serious trouble.
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