Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan helped deny England a breakthrough as the tourists tried to put their series-opening batting collapse behind them at Lord's.
Sri Lanka were 101 without loss in reply to England's first innings 486, a deficit of 385, at tea on the second day of the second Test here on Saturday.
Dilshan was 54 not out and fellow opener Tharanga Paranavitana 32 not out.
It was all a far cry from Monday's collapse in Cardiff where Sri Lanka were dismissed for just 82 as England won the first Test by an innings and 14 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
England missed a chance to separate the openers when, with the score on 37, left-hander Paranavitana, on 13, edged fast bowler Steven Finn, recalled in place of the injured James Anderson, to Alastair Cook at third slip.
But Cook, fielding in the spot vacated by the retired Paul Collingwood, failed to hold the chance despite getting both hands to the ball.
Dilshan, meanwhile, played his natural free-scoring game, hooking Chris Tremlett, one of England's trio of 6ft 5in plus seamers, for six on his way to a 58-ball fifty as Paranavitana dropped anchor.
Earlier, England were bowled out for 486 on the stroke of lunch, with wicketkeeper Matt Prior making 126 -- his fourth Test hundred.Prior, together with Stuart Broad, who made an elegant 54, took a toll of Sri Lanka's attack during a a seventh-wicket stand of 108 in 91 balls.England, who had slumped to 22 for three after losing the toss Friday, resumed on 342 for six after Cook (96) and Eoin Morgan (79) had both fallen short of a hundred.Prior was 73 not out overnight and Broad, offering good support, 17 not out.
However, Prior went from 86 to 94 with two fortunate fours, edging seamer Suranga Lakmal just short of wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene and next ball nicking him through the slips.
Prior, on 94, then saw an edged drive off left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedara dropped by normally relaible second slip Mahela Jayawardene.Broad then completed a 47-ball fifty with his ninth four before Prior's luck held again when he went to 99 byedging a cut off Lakmal between keeper and first slip for four.
A quick single took Prior through to a century off 107 balls with 17 fours.
It was Prior's second Test century at Lord's, following his 126 not out against the West Indies on his Test debut in 2007.Broad, primarily a fast-medium bowler but also a left-handed batsman, like his father Chris, the ex-England opener, was eventually plumb lbw to Welegedara.
The persevering bowler finished with four for 122 in 28 overs having been recalled after missing the first Test.Prior then fell to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath's third ball Saturday, bowled on the slog-sweep, having once again provided England with valuable and quick runs.
SCORES IN BRIEF
ENGLAND: First innings 486 (Prior 126, Cook 96, Morgan 79, Broad 54, Bell 52; Welegedara 4-122, Lakmal 3-126, Herath 2-64)
SRI LANKA: First innings 101 without loss (Dilshan 54 not out, Paranavitana 32 not out)
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