Kusal Mendis and Roshen Silva at first delayed the inevitable, No. 11 Malinda Pushpakumara then gave scare with an adventurous innings but none was enough to stop England from registering their first clean sweep away from home since 1963, beating Sri Lanka by 42 runs on Day 4 of the third Test at Colombo.
Having only six wickets in hand to chase down a daunting 327 for victory to prevent England scoring a series whitewash, the hosts put up a gallant effort, making England toil for 59.2 overs before Sri Lanka captain Suranga Lakmal fell LBW to left-arm spinner Jack Leach in the first over after tea.
The last-wicket partnership between Lakmal and Pushpakumara added 58 runs in just a shade over 12 overs to give England a scare. Pushpakumara rode his luck and smashed 42 off 40 balls that included one six and six boundaries. He was unbeaten in the end.
Leach was again the rescuer for England. He not only ended the stubborn last-wicket stand but also broke the 102-run sixth wicket partnership with a brilliant piece of fielding in the 58th over. Not known for his swiftness between the wickets, Mendis, who had batted ever so patiently against Moeen Ali and Leach, went for a second on his partner’s insistence, probably thinking that the throw would not land on his end. But Leech was well aware of the situation. Running in from square leg, he knocked the stumps down on Mendis’ end with a bullet throw after a one-handed pick-up. Mendis had to make the long walk back to the pavilion after scoring a gritty 86.
Leach and Moeen then paired up to pick up three more wickets before the resistance from Pushpakumara and Lakmal. Silva hit a fighting half-century but was finally trapped lbw by Ali.
Both Moeen and leach ended up with four-wicket hauls.
It was also only the third occasion in which Sri Lanka have lost all three Tests in a home series, having done so previously to the great Australia team in 2004, and against India last year.
England were bowled out for 230 in their second innings on Sunday with Jos Buttler making a crucial 64 after they had fallen to 39-4 against the opposition spinners.
Jonny Bairstow, returning from injury, made his presence felt with 110 in England's first innings of 336 after they elected to bat first.
Leg-spinner Adil Rashid then claimed five wickets to help dismiss Sri Lanka for 240 as the tourists took a crucial lead into the second innings.
It was a complete domination by the touring England side which clinched the one-day internationals 3-1 and the only Twenty20 match.