Sri Lanka A gradually wrestled the initiative away from Kenya on the second day of the third unofficial Test match despite two plucky partnerships from the visitor's lower order.
Kenya were well positioned at the start of play on the second morning, but Sri Lanka's spinners soon weaved their way through their top order in the first hour.
Were it not for partnerships of 67 and 59 for the sixth and ninth wickets respectively, Kenya would be struggling to prevent a three-day finish.
Sri Lanka A still established a useful 42 run lead, which was then extended to 167, as Sri Lanka A finished the second day on 125 for three thanks to an entertaining half-century from Upeka Fernando.
Fernando, 22, who secured his place after a bristling 86 off 98 balls in the second Test, continued in the same vein here, hitting ten fours in his 83-ball 61.
Avishka Gunawardene (40) added 76 runs for the first wicket with Fernando before pulling a leg-break from Collins Obuya straight into the hands of square leg.
Micahel Vandort mistimed a drive - one of a number to do so on a turgid pitch that is getting slower and lower by the hour - and was well caught at mid on.
When Fernando was caught in the covers, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chamara Silva batted cautiously till the close, clearly determined not to waste their last chance to impress the selectors against Kenya's weak bowling.
The visitors now need to take early wickets tomorrow morning if they are to have a chance to stave off a whitewash. The lead is already competitive for a side struggling to play spin.
Earlier, Kenya, resuming on 69, lost the crucial wicket of opener Ravindu Shah, scorer 94 in the first Test and 106 in the second, early on as he edged a leg-break from Upul Chandana into the hands of Upeka Fernando at slip.
Chandana went on to claim five wickets in the innings, taking his tally to 16 in the series, including the prize scalp of Steve Tikolo for 42. The right-hander drove loosely and was caught at mid-off.
Maurice Odumbe was adjudged lbw next ball - much to his anger - and the left-handed Hitesh Modi drove an off-break from Muthumudalige Pushpakumara to mid-off.
Kenya had once again exposed their weakness against slow bowling, losing four wickets for nine runs to leave themselves in a perilous position (82 for five).
But, like they had done yesterday in the field, Kenya fought back, as David Obuya, playing his first game of the tour scored 38 from 91 balls and Martin Suji made 28.
The pair added 67 runs in 20 overs before the muscular Pulasthi Gunaratne found the outside edge of Suji's bat.
The breakthrough was followed by two more quick wickets - David Obuya trapped lbw and Brijesh Patel caught behind - and another spirited partnership.
Collins Obuya clumped 49 from 69 balls, much to the delight of a coach load of Welsh tourists who had fitted in some cricket watching into their tour of Sri Lanka's ancient cities.
Joseph Angara played his part, easing his way to 19, and helping Collins Obuya take the score to within touching distance of Sri Lanka A.
However, they were unable to overhaul the hosts 262 first innings total as Angara spiraled a catch to mid off and Peter Ochieng missed a leg-break from Chandana.
© CricInfo
| Teams | Sri Lanka. Kenya. |
| Tours | Kenya in Sri Lanka |
| Scorecard | 3rd Match: Sri Lanka 'A' v Kenya, 14-17 Feb 2002 |
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