GALLE, JUN 25 (IANS): A magnificent century from opening batter B Sai Sudharsan, along with fifties hit by skipper Dhruv Jurel and Shaik Rasheed, powered India A to a commanding 333/4 in 86 overs on the opening day of the first unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A on Thursday.
Electing to bat first, India A dominated proceedings from the outset at the Galle International Stadium. Left-handed Sudharsan anchored the innings with a fluent 132 off 175 balls, a knock laced with 19 boundaries. He began by stitching an 82-run opening stand with Aayush Pandey (25).
Left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera provided the initial breakthrough by dismissing Pandey in the 23rd over and triggered a brief middle-order wobble. Devdutt Padikkal (12) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (22) were trapped lbw to leave India A at 181/3 in 45.1 overs.
Unfazed by the fall of quick wickets, Sudharsan continued his fine run by bringing up a well-compiled hundred before eventually being dismissed by medium-pacer Chamika Gunasekara with India A’s score at 217/4.
For Sri Lanka A, Sudeera was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2-98 in a marathon 29-over spell, while Gunasekara and Ravindu Fernando claimed a wicket apiece. Sri Lanka A, though, will rue the fact that they conceded 21 extras, including 13 no-balls.
Brief Scores: India A 333/4 in 86 overs (B Sai Sudharsan 132, Dhruv Jurel 68 not out; Dilum Sudeera 2-98, Chamika Gunasekara 1-50) against Sri Lanka A
