New Delhi: India A sealed their dominance on the opening day of the unofficial first Test against Sri Lanka A, finishing in a commanding 333/4 in Galle on Thursday.Opting to bat first, the visitors were helped by a century from Sai Sudharsan, who made 132 from 175 deliveries. The left-hander bowled brilliantly from the start, combining solid defense with a brilliant stroke play to keep the Sri Lankan batsmen at bay for long.Sudharsan found the right balance between patience and brutality, punishing any loose ends while respecting the ground conditions that provide immediate support to the bowlers. His 82-run opening stand with Aayush Pandey (25) got off to a slow start before India stumbled a bit and lost wickets at the other end.Despite Devdutt Padikkal’s early dismissal and a short-lived inclusion, Sudharsan ensured that India A would remain dominant. His 19 goals showed good communication and control, as he accepted pressure and changed gears when he settled down.
Jurel and Rasheed expand control
Sudharsan’s dismissal at 217/4 brought no relief to the bowlers, as captain Dhruv Jurel and Shaik Rasheed took part in an unbeaten 116-run stand for the fifth wicket.Jurel, the leading forward, played an unbeaten 68, circling you smartly and using loose money. At the other end, Rasheed ably supported him with a confident unbeaten 53, showing maturity against pace and spin.The duo ensured that India A did not lose steam in the final session, maintaining a healthy average of 3.87 runs in 86 overs.Sri Lanka A’s bowlers worked hard but found little success, with left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera returning figures of 2/98 from a long spell of 29. However, a lack of consistency allowed India A to continue to build partnerships throughout the day.
India A boldly
At stumps, the story of the day was India A’s dominance through consistent batting and consistent batting. From Sudharsan’s hard work to Jurel-Rasheed’s, the hosts dominated the proceedings from start to finish.With motivation on their side, India A will look to push on and turn their strong start into a first-rate record in the remaining four days.