MOEEN Ali and Chris Woakes made Sri Lanka pay for missing chances as England took control on the second morning of the second Investec Test.

The hosts still had work to do, resuming on 310 for six at Chester-le-Street, but turned the screw to take lunch on 408 for eight as they bid for a series-sealing 2-0 lead.

Sri Lanka missed two early opportunities, one to see off each batsman.

Moeen (85 not out) had added just eight to his overnight 28 when he edged Nuwan Pradeep (four for 94) through the hands of Dimuth Karunaratne at gully.

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Woakes edges a shot and is out. Photo: Chris Booth

Then Dinesh Chandimal, struggling with a sore left thumb, did not even get a glove on an obvious chance when Woakes got himself under way again with an edge for four off the luckless Shaminda Eranga.

The tourists were undoing all the good work which had kept England within sight the previous day, and the seventh-wicket pair happily took advantage in a stand of 92.

After drinks, Kusal Mendis replaced Chandimal behind the stumps as the first-choice wicketkeeper decided it was no longer worth risking further injury or costly drops.

Moeen greeted the introduction of spin from Rangana Herath by hitting the slow left-armer over mid-off for his sixth four to bring up his half-century.

There was to be no first century partnership of the match or maiden Test 50 for Woakes, who departed for a career-best 39 when he tried to drive Suranga Lakmal on the up and instead edged behind to Mendis.

Stuart Broad was also caught by the new wicketkeeper to give Pradeep his fourth wicket - but this was still unarguably England's session.

:: Former Pakistan bowler Saqlain Mushtaq is set to join England as a specialist spin coach during this summer's second Investec Test against his native country in July.