England v Sri Lanka: Frustration for Finn and England as Sri Lanka hit back

Jonny Bairstow does a neat take behind the stumps after Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews misses a square cut. Picture: PA.

Steven Finn admits he is still searching for his elusive best, but is confident he served England well on a frustrating day as Sri Lanka held them up at Chester-le-Street.

England appeared likely to wrap up the Investec series with a second successive innings victory inside three days, after Sri Lanka were bowled out for 101 and asked to follow on 397 runs behind.

But half-centuries from their captain Angelo Mathews (80), opener Kaushal Silva (60) and Dinesh Chandimal (54no) made a mockery of their previous struggles as they closed on 309-5.

Finn’s solitary success, the wicket of Silva, came after he stirred himself up and found a little extra life in a docile pitch.

It was reward for a hard-working spell, and England’s collective efforts, as Sri Lanka at last produced a worthwhile rearguard after collapses here and at Headingley last week.

For Finn, there were signs he is beginning to find his feet again after a slow start to the summer for club and country on his return from a side injury.

“It’s no secret I’ve been searching for rhythm – it’s been there in patches,” he said.

“I wanted to smash the deck, to help with the rhythm.

“It’s hard to find something as a bowler that makes it click, when you are searching for it – maybe I’ve been doing that this summer, I’ve been desperate for form and rhythm.”

He has had to be patient, and was again – but tried to move up a gear by engaging in a battle, verbally at one point, with the batsman.

“I still feel I’m doing a job, but I haven’t been 100 per cent good 100 per cent of the time – which I was in South Africa and last summer.

“It helps take your thought process away from the pitch – if looking for rhythm you’re best doing that, getting yourself in a fight at the other end of the pitch, rather than at your own end.

“The umpires said don’t use any bad language – which I adhered to – (and I decided to) run in as hard as I can.”

England’s four-man pace attack could only chip their way through the Sri Lanka order.

“I came out after tea trying to get into a fight and have a bit more intent on a wicket where it’s not doing much for me on the length,” added Finn.

“Given my height, it can be a bit more uncomfortable.

“I worked it out for myself.

“Our mantra has been trying to starve them of runs, and it will bring wickets – not bowl jaffas every ball. That was the way I felt I could starve them of runs.”

Sri Lanka were a different proposition with the bat second time round