Jaffer's soft dismissal, twenty minutes before lunch, was the only blot in a session where the Indians took control after five-star Ranadeb Bose shot the second string Lankan side to 266 on Friday.

Jaffer set the tone, reeling sweetly-timed drives off the faster bowlers. His cover-drive off Akalanka Ganegama's first over, the second of the day, was the shot of the morning and he was soon in cruise mode, glancing and driving with minimum fuss. Two runs short of his half-century he advanced down the track to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and spooned a simple catch to mid-on. Just like in the first innings at Trent Bridge, he gave it away when well set.

Gambhir was at the opposite end of the comfort spectrum. He was dropped in the first over of the day, flashing outside off to Dammika Prasad and watching Herath let off a diving chance at third slip. Several other edges fell short of the slip fielders and two confident appeals for lbw, against Prasad and Chanaka Walagedara, were turned down. It was a charmed existence for most part and it was only before lunch that he appeared to be hitting his stride.

Rahul Dravid, who would want to use this game to regain some form before the third Test at The Oval, began positively in his short stint before the lunch break.

Earlier, Ranadeb Bose pushed his claims for a Test recall by taking five wickets on the first day of India's three-day match against Sri Lanka A at Grace Road here Friday.

Pace bowler Bose, yet to feature in the ongoing Test series against England which sees India 1-0 up following a seven-wicket win at Trent Bridge ahead of the third and final match at The Oval starting on Thursday, took five for 51 as Sri Lanka A were bowled out for 266.

He was well-supported by off-spinner Ramesh Powar, who took four for 85. Powar, also yet to play in the Test series with India opting for experienced leg-spinner Anil Kumble as their specialist slow bowler, enjoyed a purple patch of three wickets in four balls.

At stumps, India were 25 for one.

India rested several key players for this match ahead of The Oval finale with batsmen Sachin Tendulkkar and Sourav Ganguly omitted along with the Test pace attack of Zaheer Khan, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and Rudra Pratap Singh.

The trio's absence gave the 28-year-old Bose a chance to shine and he struck either side of lunch to take three top-order wickets in Dilruwan Perara, Malinda Warnapura and Michael Vandort, out for 52.

Sri Lanka A captain Thilan Samaraweera scored 75 off 100 balls with nine fours before becoming the first of three wickets in four balls for Powar, with the Lankans losing their last four wickets for seven runs.

Before the close Dinesh Karthik, impressive at Trent Bridge, was caught behind for 11.