Left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain grabbed five wickets but the home team managed valuable runs in their second essay to set a 341-run winning target for the visitors, who were 16 without loss at stumps.

Jahurul Islam (7) and Mehrab Hossain (6) successfully negotiated seven overs towards the end of play and the opening pair will resume the final day needing 325 more runs to win the four-day Test and square the series.

Earlier, Sri Lanka A declared their second innings on 184-6 with left-handers Kanchana Gunawardene and Jehan Mubarak making 51 runs each.

Tall spinner Mosharraf was the most successful bowler by claiming five wickets for 69 while fellow left-arm slow Enamul Haque, who captured six wickets in the first innings, took the other wicket.

Bangladesh A, overnight 201-7, conceded a 156-run first innings lead after bundling out for 239.

Slow left-arm orthodox Rangana Herath captured all three Bangladeshi wickets to fall on the day to return with figures of 5-45.