Sri Lanka began the fourth morning of this Third Test just 125 runs from a famous, consolatory victory and England still nine wickets shy of completing a perfect summer of six wins out of six.
Given the gap between the sides across the first two Tests of this series, both won by England comfortably enough in the end, there was optimism that a summer short on jeopardy and consequence from the start might at least be set up for a grandstand farewell.
