Sudharsan's superb 132, fifties by Jurel, Rasheed put India A in driver's seat against Sri Lanka A
Galle, June 25
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. Any hopes of the hosts clawing back into the game were quickly extinguished by Jurel and Rasheed.
The duo combined for a solid, unbroken 116-run partnership for the fifth wicket to completely shut them out in the final session. Jurel batted with maturity to finish the day unbeaten on 68 off 138 balls, hitting five boundaries, while Rasheed complemented him perfectly with a solid 53 not out off 92 deliveries, laced with four boundaries.
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
— IANS
Reader Comments
Superb knock by Sudharsan! But I'm a bit concerned about the middle order - losing 3 quick wickets for just 30-odd runs after a solid start is worrying. Padikkal and Gaikwad need to convert starts into big scores if they want to push for senior team selection. Still, overall a commanding position. Well played, India A! 👏
Dhruv Jurel is showing why he's highly rated - 68* with composure and Rasheed's 53* were exactly what the doctor ordered after those wickets fell. This 116-run partnership is the backbone of the innings. Sri Lanka A bowled well but those 13 no-balls are costly at this level. 👀
Impressive performance from India A! Sudharsan's century was world-class. But I wonder about the pitch - Galle usually assists spinners from day 2 onwards. India A's bowlers will need to be disciplined. Still, 333/4 in 86 overs is a solid platform. Looking forward to see how this unfolds! 🏏
Sai Sudharsan is a special talent - his technique is so pleasing to watch. Also credit to Jurel and Rasheed for their grit. However, I feel the team management should have given more chances to other batters in the lineup - Padikkal and Gaikwad need to show more consistency. Still, a great day for Indian cricket! 🏏🇮🇳
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