Sri Lanka ‘A’ openers Oshada Fernando and Nishan Madushka led the side's fight back after England Lions further strengthened their hold on day two of the first unofficial Test match played at the Galle International Stadium.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ trailing a massive deficit of 331 runs saw the pair associating in a valuable opening wicket stand of 203 runs which came to an end with the dismissal of Fernando who made a breezy 114 runs in 134 balls that included 18 boundaries to give the home side some consolation.

Madushka and Lakshitha Manasinghe from there on held till stumps facing just under eight overs as Sri Lanka ‘A’ ended day two on 228 for 1 and they need to erase a further 103 runs to avoid an innings defeat when play gets underway on day three tomorrow.

The England Lions resuming from their overnight score of 249 for 3 saw the overnight pair Ton Haines and Josh Bohannon adding a further 25 runs before they were separated having added 74 runs for the fourth wicket.

Though there were no significant partnerships from there on the visitors kept the scoreboard moving spearheaded by Haines who in the process went onto reach his ton before being dismissed which was the seventh wicket to fall having made a valuable 138 ball knock of 114 which had 12 boundaries and a six.

Later Mathew Fisher who made a quick fire 53 in 46 balls with two boundaries and two sixes and Liam Patterson White helped the England Lions pass the 400 runs mark enabling them to end their innings with a formidable score of 467 runs.

The match will be continued tomorrow.

Result:

At Galle

Sri Lanka ‘A’ 136 (Sadeera Samarawickrama 43, Lakshitha Manasinghe 26, Oshada Fernando 21, Nuwanidu Fernando 17, Nipun Dhananjaya 15: Mathew Fisher 5 for 34, Liam Patterson White 3 for 51) and 228 for 1 (Oshada Fernando 114, Nishan Madushka 91 n.o.)

England Lions (249/3 overnight) 467 (Tom Haines 118, Haseeb Hameed 81, Alex Lees 56, Mathew Fisher 53, Josh Bohannon 42, Liam Patterson White 41, Jamie Smith 23, Jack Haynes 16: Amshi de Silva 3 for 59, Lasith Embuldeniya 2 for 89, Lakshitha Manasinghe 2 for 85)