Opening batsman Nishan Madushka came to the show again stroking an unbeaten 89 off 118 balls in rallying Sri Lanka A to 292 for 3 wickets in the second innings after the local bowlers had done well to put the brakes on the tourists reducing them from an overnight 234 for 3 to 405 on the third day of the First Unofficial Test match at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Madushka took over after the bowlers had done well to put the brakes on the Lions threatening overnight 234 for 3 courtesy Chamika Karunaratne 4 for 84 and Vishwa Fernando 3 for 83. Madushka set forth to wiping out the 171-run first innings deficit to ending the penultimate day on a pretty 129 lead with 7 wickets intact having added 88 for the first wicket with first innings centurion Lasith Croospulle who scored 47 off 41. Madushka, who struck 241 in the first test, was on song in his run harvest against the English hitting 13 boundaries and a six as he stood 11 short of his third century off them. Croospulle hit 4 boundaries and 2 sixes in his quick fire innings. Following his exit Kamindu Mendis got into the act carving 67 off 76 studded with 11 boundaries.

The England Lions Jamie Smith went on to convert his overnight 86 to 126 off just 82 balls powered by 13 boundaries and 8 over the top in a fascinating display.

CHIEF SCORES: Sri Lanka A 332 (Lasith Croospulle 128) And 202/3 (42 Overs)'(Nishan Madushka n.o. 89, Lasith Croospulle 47, Kamindu Mendis 67, Lasith Embuldeniya n.o. 1, Jack Carson 2/52, Matthew Fisher 1/46)

England Lions 405 (76.4 Overs) (Jamie Smith 126, Alex Lees 97, Liam Patterson While 24, Josh Tongue 29, Matthew Fisher n.o. 13,.Chamika Karunaratne 4/84, Vishwa Fernando 3/83, Praveen Jayawickrama 1/113)