Sri Lanka's Roshen Silva held the fort with a stubborn 85 to secure a 46-run first innings lead over England on the second day of the second Test on Thursday.

Shortly before stumps in Kandy the hosts, down 1-0 in the three-match series, were bowled out for 336 in reply to England's 290 with stand-in skipper Suranga Lakmal not out 15.

The visitors were yet to open their account after nightwatchman Jack Leach faced six balls from Dilruwan Perera in the final over of the day. Rory Burns was accompanying Leach at close of play.

Adil Rashid had struck twice after lunch to raise the tourists' hopes of securing a crucial first innings lead.

But Silva built crucial partnerships including a 56-run ninth wicket stand with Akila Dananjaya as the hosts edged past England's total.

Perera made 15 before falling leg before to Leach while Dananjaya frustrated England before falling to Moeen Ali, also leg before for 31.

England's first innings total was 285 but Sri Lanka were docked five runs after the umpires deemed that Silva did not ground his bat properly while taking a run.

SCORES IN BRIEF

ENGLAND: First innings 290

SRI LANKA: First innings 336 all out (Karunaratne 63, Silva 85; Leach 3-70, Rashid 3-76)

ENGLAND: 2nd innings 0 for 0.