Shah shines to give England A command

England A 424 (Bell 144, Prior 76*, Bandara 5-96 ) and 240 for 5 (Powell 54, Shah 81) v Sri Lanka A 228 (Bandara 45, Gidman 3-8, Mahmood 3-53)
Scorecard

Bad light and a gathering thunderstorm forced England's players to flee the Colombo Cricket Club with 14.5 overs of the day's play remaining, but by that stage they were able to reflect on a third consecutive day of control. After Ian Bell's first-day leadership and Sajid Mahmood's spark on day two, it was the turn of Alex Gidman and Owais Shah to shine today. England A finished with a whooping 436-run lead and five wickets still in the bag.

Sri Lanka's A's tail-wag proved shortlived on the third morning, cut short by the steady medium pace of Gidman. Malinga Bandara extended his overnight 30 to 45 and Thushara Mirando flogged a quick 27, but Gidman ended the innings in a hurry, claiming 3 for 8 in just 3.2 overs. Sri Lanka A were bowled out for a disappointing 228 - far too little on a fine batting strip and in familiar conditions.

England's reply got off to a shaky start as Nandika Ranjith trapped Alistair Cook lbw for 18, before Bell, the first-innings bedrock, nibbled at a delivery from Gayan Wijekoon and was caught behind for 4. England were 32 for 2, but sweating only because of the humidity. Shah (81) and Mike Powell (54) soon settled and added 86 for the third wicket, carrying England A towards a position of impregnability.

Mohamed Suraj, Sri Lanka A's offspinner, broke through when an lbw appeal against Powell was upheld and Ranjith, no doubt mindful of the selectors' close scrutiny after Nuwan Zoysa's withdrawal from the New Zealand tour, proved successful when he returned for a mid-afternoon spell, finishing Shah's 134-ball innings, an entertaining stay that included three sixes and five fours.

But Matthew Prior followed on where he left off in the first innings, speeding to 40 not out from only 33 balls as England A stepped on the gas to give themselves time for a few overs' bowling in the evening. Rikki Clarke joined the fun with his own blitz, racing to 30 from 23 balls. But Sri Lanka A were saved when bad light ended the day. Survival tomorrow, though, may not be so easy.

"I was disappointed I didn't get to three figures," said Shah after the day's play. "Considering the nature of the game we were only going to bat for another three overs or so. The captain said to get as many runs as I can. I took a few shots on which I normally wouldn't. Sometimes you get away with it, sometimes you don't.

"I've been involved with the England side for the last two or three years and all of a sudden to be picked on an `A' tour was great news," said Shah. "I am very keen to prove myself once again and try and get myself in the fold of a potential replacement and put my name in the hat. This tour is extremely important to me. It could be my last chance to play for England."