In a highly charged contest in the Tri-Nation A Series, India A fell short in a super over against Sri Lanka A following a thrilling tie in the main match at Dambulla on Monday. The encounter was filled with tension, umpiring controversies, and an unsavoury post-match incident.
Batting first after being inserted, India A posted 265 all out in 49.2 overs. Suryansh Shedge led the way with a fluent 72, while Vipraj Nigam chipped in with 51. The innings was marred by 10 penalty runs conceded when Nigam twice walked onto the protected area of the pitch. Sri Lanka A responded strongly, reaching exactly 265 for nine in their 50 overs, anchored by Sadeera Samarawickrama’s composed 93. The scores were levelled on the final ball when a run-out attempt resulted in a tie, setting the stage for a super over.
The path to the decider was not straightforward. Significant confusion arose over whether light conditions would permit a super over, with India A captain Tilak Varma engaged in animated discussions with the umpires. Once underway, Sri Lanka A got off to a solid start. Arshad Khan bowled tightly at the beginning, but Avishka Fernando struck a six. A full toss on the subsequent delivery led to a dismissal that was initially given out, only for the third umpire to rule it a no-ball after review. This sparked further frustration from Varma, who continued protesting. Sri Lanka A ultimately posted 16 runs in the super over.
Chasing 17, India A sent Suryansh Shedge and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to the crease. They managed only nine runs, falling seven short. Kugathas Mathulan bowled effectively in the closing stages to seal the victory for the home side.
The match concluded on a sour note as Sooryavanshi became involved in a heated on-field clash with a Sri Lanka A player immediately after the result, requiring intervention from others to calm the situation.
The result leaves both teams with plenty to reflect upon ahead of their remaining fixtures in the series. India A will be disappointed with the manner of defeat after fighting back strongly in the death overs, while Sri Lanka A will take confidence from their composure under pressure and the fighting spirit shown by their senior players.
