Sri Lanka A stayed in the hunt on Day 2 of the first unofficial Test against India A in Galle as Nuwanidu Fernando’s unbeaten 65 carried them to 113 for 2 at stumps, despite a daunting 339-run deficit. Earlier, India A declared on 452 for 6, built around Dhruv Jurel’s unbeaten 141.
The day’s play left the match finely poised: India A have a sizeable first-innings total and early wickets in hand, but Sri Lanka A’s recovery from 38 for 2 ensured they remain in the contest with two days still to play.
Jurel’s 141* drives India A to 452/6d
Jurel resumed the second day unbeaten on 68 and quickly turned his overnight progress into a defining innings. He began the morning in a century partnership with Shaik Rasheed, who was 53 not out at the start of play.
Rasheed’s resistance ended soon after when he was bowled by right-arm fast bowler Chamika Gunasekara for 63, but Jurel continued to build from the other end. He finished unbeaten on 141, striking 13 fours and one six as he anchored India A’s push towards a declaration.
Harsh Dubey provided support through the latter half of Jurel’s innings, and the pair added 86 runs for the sixth wicket. Dubey made 30 off 51 balls before becoming Gunasekara’s third wicket of the innings, underlining the bowler’s role in keeping India A from running away even further.
After Dubey’s dismissal, India A batted for only two more overs before declaring on 452 for 6, with Jurel left not out at the close of the innings. Sai Sudharsan’s 132 was the other major contribution in the total, while Gunasekara finished with 3 for 84.
India A’s declaration sets up a demanding chase for time
With the declaration, the pressure shifted squarely onto Sri Lanka A to respond with both time and deficit in mind. India A’s bowlers were immediately rewarded as the hosts slipped to 38 for 2, giving the visitors early control of the reply.
Sri Lanka A recover from 38/2 as Nuwanidu holds firm
Sri Lanka A’s reply began with two key setbacks. Niroshan Dickwella was dismissed by Anshul Kamboj in the fourth over, and Pawantha Weerasinghe then had his stumps knocked back by Yash Thakur in the 11th, leaving the innings wobbling at 38 for 2.
From there, Nuwanidu and Ashen Bandara rebuilt with an unbroken 75-run stand that took Sri Lanka A through to stumps. Bandara finished 18 not out off 51 balls, playing the steadier role, while Nuwanidu provided the scoring impetus with seven fours in a 103-ball effort.
At the close of play, Sri Lanka A were 113 for 2, still trailing by 339 runs. The partnership ensured the innings did not unravel after the early losses and gave Sri Lanka A a platform to continue their response with two days remaining.
India A’s Kamboj had figures of 1 for 22 among the early breakthroughs, and with a large first-innings total behind them, the visitors will look to strike again early on Day 3. Sri Lanka A, meanwhile, will resume with Nuwanidu and Bandara set, aiming to reduce the deficit and extend the contest deep into the match.