Nabi claims four as India A secure 122-run first-innings lead in Galle

Sri Lanka A's middle-order batters delivered a good performance on Day 3 but that wasn't enough to prevent India A from taking a three-figure lead in the first four-day game in Galle. Despite half-centuries from Nuwanidu Fernando (84), Sahan Arachchige (72) and Ashen Bandara (70), Sri Lanka A were bowled out for 330, with Auqib Nabi bagging a four-wicket haul. India A reached 48/0 at Stumps, leading by 170.

Sri Lanka A began the day at 113 for 2. The overnight pair of Nuwanidu Fernando and Ashen Bandara extended their partnership to 105, with 40 of those runs coming in the morning session on Day 3. Fernando looked good for a three-figure score but fell 16 short of it as Yash Thakur struck to end the century stand.

But India A went wicketless for the rest of the session as Bandara and skipper Sahan Arachchige put on a half-century stand, with the former also getting past fifty. Arachchige, meanwhile, took on the spinners and scored regular boundaries, even clearing the fence off Saransh Jain, as Sri Lanka A went into Lunch at 204 for 3.

Sri Lanka's fourth wicket pair batted watchfully at the start of the second session, and there was also a brief stoppage for rain. Arachchige's two sixes off Harsh Dubey helped the team pick up pace - the first maximum brought up his fifty. A boundary for Bandara off Thakur took the partnership past the 100-run mark.

The pair collected a few more boundaries before Saransh Jain ended the partnership at 117 with the wicket of Bandara, while Dubey accounted for Arachchige soon after, with Devdutt Padikkal taking both catches. Ravindu Fernando and Anjala Bandara struck a flurry of fours to take Sri Lanka A to 300 before Auqib Nabi struck in successive overs to dismiss both as the hosts went into Tea at 315 for 7, trailing by 137.

Dubey bagged the wicket of Kavindu Pathiratne in the first over after the break to leave Sri Lanka A eight down. Chamika Gunasekara and Dilum Sudeera batted for nearly 10 overs as they tried to frustrate India A. However, Nabi returned to the attack and wrapped up the innings with the wickets of Gunasekara and Dulaj Samudhita off successive deliveries to finish with figures of 4 for 58.

Armed with a 122-run lead, India A started well before Sai Sudharsan, the centurion of the first innings, retired hurt on 7. Ayush Pandey and Padikkal built a steady partnership as they extended the lead past 150. Both Padikkal and Pandey were unbeaten at the end of the day's play.

Brief scores: India A 452/6 decl. & 48/0 (Devdutt Padikkal 20*, Ayush Pandey 20*) lead Sri Lanka A 330 (Nuwanidu Fernando 84, Sahan Arachchige 72, Ashen Bandara 70; Auqib Nabi Dar 4-58) by 170 runs.