England's batsmen were again undone by spin but Graeme Swann hauled them back into contention as 17 wickets tumbled on day two of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
The tourists were bundled out for 193 - a first-innings deficit of 125 - after slow left-armer Rangana Herath took six wickets and off-spinner Suraj Randiv two. Only Ian Bell's 52 and a late flurry of boundaries from the tail-end saved the side from meltdown, as the flaws exposed by Pakistan earlier in the year were again put under the spotlight.
But, once again, England's attack performed brilliantly with Swann taking four wickets after tea to leave Sri Lanka 84 for five. They will resume with a lead of 209, while Swann will hope to add to superb figures of four for 28.
Sri Lanka had resumed their first innings on 289 for eight, adding 29 for their last two wickets. Both went to James Anderson, who claimed his five-for. Chanaka Welegedara was undone by a sumptuous slower ball before Anderson added the prize scalp of Mahela Jayawardene for a memorable 180.
England were looking for a big total in response but lost Alastair Cook lbw for nought. Jonathan Trott donated his wicket to Herath in baffling fashion, stumped after letting a full toss disappear between bat and pad before he collided with wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.
Andrew Strauss was gone for 26 just 13 balls later, given lbw and Kevin Pietersen aimed a flashy drive at his first ball of the afternoon session, but succeeded only in inside edging into the stumps. Matt Prior lasted seven deliveries before becoming Herath's third victim before Samit Patel mustered just two singles before he mimicked Prior's dismissal, lbw on the back foot against Herath.
Stuart Broad boosted England's tally with a flurry of boundaries off Suranga Lakmal, but Herath halted his cameo at 28 from 15 balls, with Broad lbw on the sweep. Swann followed Broad's lead, finding the ropes six times on his way 24 before Tillakaratne Dilshan's reaction catch handed Randiv a first success. Bell was the ninth man out, Herath clipping the top of his off stump.
Yet Anderson (23no) and Monty Panesar (13) added another 36 for the last wicket before the latter was leg before to Randiv.
When England took to the field, Broad needed just three balls to spear one through Dilshan's defences, while Swann was also up for the challenge. Having taken nought for 92 on day one, he roared back with two wickets in his first seven balls. Lahiru Thirimanne was bowled when Swann turned one away and the crucial wicket of Jayawardene followed, held by Anderson at slip.
Thilan Samaraweera and Kumar Sangakkara halted the charge for 10 overs before Swann located Sangakkara's edge and - with the close approaching - Samaraweera was stumped for 36 as he charged Swann only to be beaten on the outside edge.