Sai Sudharsan century, Padikkal 94* put India A in command

B Sai Sudarshan had retired hurt during the first four-day fixture between Sri Lanka A and India A, but returned to action with an unbeaten century on day two of the second game at Galle. He was unbeaten on 104 at stumps, and giving him company was Devdutt Padikkal, who was 94 not out. Sai Sudharsan and Padikkal’s partnership was unbroken on 181 for the second wicket, leaving India A only another 119 runs behind Sri Lanka A’s first-innings total of 366. India A had started positively, with Sai Sudharsan and his opening partner Aman Mokhade bringing up their half-century stand off just 63 balls. While Sai Sudharsan had hit five boundaries until that stage, Mokhade had hit four. But offspinner Keshara Nuwantha broke the stand at 66 when he had Mokhade caught for 38. Despite the loss, Sai Sudharsan and Padikkal kept India A going by steadily chipping into the hosts’ total. The runs kept coming at a steady pace for the visitors, who had, earlier in the day, bagged the last five Sri Lanka A wickets for just 61 runs.

Devdutt Padikkal punches off the back foot [Sri Lanka Cricket]

Sri Lanka A had resumed on 288 for 5, with their captain Sahan Arachchige unbeaten on 83. He hit the second ball of the day, bowled by Gurnoor Brar, for four, but the fast bowler broke the sixth-wicket partnership on 35 when he had Chamika Gunasekara caught behind for 13 in the 92nd over. Arachchige, meanwhile, reached his century in the 94th over. He kept Sri Lanka A ticking in a steady eighth-wicket stand with Dilum Sudeera after Saransh Jain got Nuwantha for 1. Sudeera contributed a handy 20 before Jain had him lbw in the 109th over, before Grunoor wrapped up the innings in the next over. He dismissed Arachchige for 127 and last batter Asanka Manoj two balls later to bowl Sri Lanka A out in 110 overs. That was lunch, and both Gurnoor and Jain finished with four wickets each. India A then carried the momentum into the next two sessions of the day. Scores: India A 247 for 1 in 63 overs (B Sai Sudharsan 104*, Devdutt Padikkal 94*; Keshara Huwantha 1-63) trail Sri Lanka A 366 in 110 overs (Nuwanidu Fernando 44, Sahan Arachchige 127, Anjala Bandara 42; Gurnoor Brar 4-77, Saransh Jain 4-92, Yash Thakur 2-46) by 119 runs [Cricinfo]