The last two wickets of the first Sri Lankan innings fell the next morning, and the English batsmen took to the crease. De Mel soon captured their first three wickets, leaving the English total at 44 for 3 wickets. However, Gower was dropped early in his innings, a mistake which would prove costly for the Sri Lankans. Gower and English captain Keith Fletcher took the team to 120 before the latter was dismissed. At the end of play for the day, England was at 186 for 5 wickets, with Gower and Bob Taylor at the crease.