Lewis was a late call-up after Sajid Mahmood's withdrawal

England A bowler Jon Lewis boosted his hopes of a Test place with six wickets to help bowl Sri Lanka out for 179.

But Alastair Cook and Owais Shah were both out cheaply as the hosts reached 70-2 in reply on day one at Worcester.

Captain Rob Key made a gritty unbeaten on 46 and Ed Joyce a relaxed 24 not out despite a break for light late on.

There were three late wickets for Liam Plunkett but Lewis outshone the Durham man with his swing bowling, finishing with figures of 6-49.

Lewis has begun the season in fine form, with 14 wickets in all forms of the game as Gloucestershire's new captain.

But he was only called up by England's second string side after Sajid Mahmood was withdrawn, with an eye on the Lancashire man making a Test debut next week.

There's some places up for grabs and I'm looking to push my claims Jon Lewis More Lewis reaction

Watched by selectors David Graveney and Geoff Miller, Lewis found plenty of swing early on the New Road wicket in an eight-over opening spell of four wickets for 22 runs.

He set the tone by removing Vandort with the first ball of the day when he edged to Alex Loudon at third slip attempting to work the ball to the on-side.

Lewis struck in his next over too, Upul Tharanga being caught down the leg-side by diving wicketkeeper Chris Read.

And his next two successes established England A's stranglehold, Kumar Sangakkara and captain Mahela Jayawardene falling in successive overs.

The pair had added 30 crucial runs until Jayawardene was caught behind off an inside edge, and Sangakkara fell in identical manner driving outside off-stump.

Rikki Clarke earned his reward for a hostile spell by having Thilan Samaraweera caught by Alastair Cook at second slip.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (47) and Chamara Kapugedera (36) came together at 44-5 and shared a stand of 76 before Lewis returned to account for both men.

Two overs into his new spell he won a leg-before decision against Kapugedera and then bowled Dilshan after he had battled for more than two hours.

Lewis should play at Lord's instead of Plunkett From GT Have your say on TMS

Plunkett, who played two Tests over the winter, took a comfortable return catch to remove Farveez Maharoof and finished off the tail after the tea break.

Sri Lanka's batting order is expected to be the same when the first Test begins at Lord's next Thursday but seamer Nuwan Zoysa was rested from the attack.

Meanwhile, Muttiah Muralitharan left the touring party to fly back home following the death of his aunt.