ALASTAIR COOK became the first English batsman to score 10,000 Test runs as England closed in on a series victory over Sri Lanka in the afternoon session at Chester-le-Street.

Cook flicked Nuwan Pradeep to the leg-side boundary to become the youngest batsman in history to reach the 10,000-run milestone.

He was 23 not out at the tea interval, with Alex Hales alongside him as England reached 33-0 in pursuit of the 79 runs they need to claim victory.

Earlier, Sri Lanka were dismissed for 475 in their second innings, with Dinesh Chandimal top-scoring on 126.

James Anderson took three of the five wickets to fall today, finishing with figures of 5-58 in the second innings.