Sri Lanka A 379 and 162 for 6 (Samaraweera 40, Lokuarachchi 23*, Prasad 21*) lead Durham 220 (Welegedara 5-45) by 321 runs
Scorecard

Sri Lanka A have an excellent chance of heading for victory on the final day after taking the honours for the second successive day at Chester-le-Street. They have a second-innings lead of 321, with four wickets remaining.

Durham made 220 in their first innings, to hand Sri Lanka a cushion of 159 heading into their second innings, as Chanaka Welegedara took five wickets. Lee Goddard was the only Durham batsmen to make a fifty. It was Goddard's second first-class fifty in 13 knocks. Garry Park also chipped in with 45.

Sri Lanka lost wickets steadily to encourage Durham, but Thilan Samaraweera held them off with 40, and they have given themselves a chance of bowling out Durham on Friday.