New Delhi: India A kicked off their Tri-Nation Series campaign with a thrilling eight-run win over Sri Lanka A in Dambulla on Tuesday, thanks to a dramatic turnaround in the final overs.The visiting team looked set for defeat when Sri Lanka captain Sahan Arashchigi played a brilliant knock of 74 off 72 balls and put his side in complete control chasing 278. But India A held their nerve and staged a stunning comeback to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Sri Lanka A in control after Arachchige advanced tournamentChasing 278, Sri Lanka A got off to a strong start through Niroshan Dickwella (47) and Avishka Fernando (45), who added 93 runs for the opening wicket.Although Aayush Badoni removed both openers, Arachchige kept Sri Lanka A on track with a composed innings. He found support from the midfield and later from Wanoja Sahan as the home team closed in on the goal.
At one stage, Sri Lanka A needed just 22 runs from the last four overs with four wickets in hand and looked to have one foot over the finish line.Yorker Cambog changes the gameThe turning point came in the 48th minute.With Sri Lanka needing 16 runs off 16 balls, Anshul Kamboj produced a perfect yorker to bowl good Arachchige for 74.
The wicket gave India a much-needed opening and suddenly the pressure shifted back to the Sri Lankan batsmen.Kamboj’s breakthrough inspired new faith in the Indian camp and brought about a tense ending.Arshad KhanEnd tournamentsArshad Khan then took over in the death overs and produced the match-winning spell.Sri Lanka A needed just 10 runs from the last two overs and still had three wickets in hand. However, Arshad scored twice in quick succession in the 49th over. He trapped Vijayakanth Viyaskanth lbw before Ruturaj Gaikwad removed Wanuja Sahan, who threatened to take the game away from India.The wicket left Sri Lanka reeling and the tail exposed.Arshad then returned in the final over and took three wickets as Sri Lanka A lost their last four wickets in the space of just 10 deliveries to give India A an unexpected win.Gaikwad’s century anchors India in the inningsEarlier, India A recovered from a poor start to score 277 for six.
There was a lot of focus on teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, but his first List A innings for India A ended at 14.
Prabhsimran Singh also departed cheaply as India dropped to 16th for two.Vice-captain Ruturaj Gaikwad stabilized the innings with 101 off 114 balls, his 21st on the century list. Along with captain Tilak Varma (60), he put together a crucial 150-run partnership to take the fourth wicket.The pair batted patiently in difficult conditions before accelerating later in the innings.Badoni and Shedge provide the finishing touchesAfter the departure of Gaikwad and Tilak, Aayush Badoni (24 off 18) and Suryansh Shidge (26 off 14) added valuable late innings.Their brisk 46-run stand helped India A cross the 270-run mark, a total that eventually proved to be enough.India A will next take on Afghanistan A on June 11 as they look to build on their dramatic opening win in the tri-series.