Anmolpreet Singh (116 n.o., 165b, 11x4) and Siddhesh Lad (76, 89b, 6x4, 1x6) provided no respite for Sri Lanka-A, guiding India-A to a mammoth 622 for five declared on the second day of their first unofficial ‘Test’ at KSCA Stadium here on Sunday.
In reply, Sri Lanka-A limped to 83 for four.
India-A started the day on 376 for one, and continued to pile on the runs. Abhimanyu Easwaran, 189 overnight, moved to his double century in quick time.
Let-off
On 213, he received a life when Vishwa Fernando — slow off the blocks at deep fine-leg — fluffed a high catch. Pacer Lahiru Kumara, who had set up the bouncer trap perfectly, was not impressed with Fernando’s lazy effort.
Easwaran was finally taken out leg-before by spinner Akila Dananjaya for 233. His marathon knock, which lasted 321 balls and 500 minutes, contained 22 fours and three sixes.
Jayant Yadav (8) and Ricky Bhui (1) were dismissed cheaply, before Anmolpreet and Lad got together and made merry. The duo put on 147 runs for the fifth wicket, with Anmolpreet reaching his fifth First Class ton. The 21-year-old from Punjab was strong off the backfoot, cutting and pulling with authority.
On a leather hunt
The fielders were sent on a leather hunt, and they were only too happy to leave the field when India-A called time on the first essay.
However, the misery continued for Sri Lanka-A, this time with the bat. Pacers Ankit Rajpoot, Sandeep Warrier and Shivam Dube proved to be a handful, keeping the new ball full and extracting movement.
Warrier removed Sangeeth Cooray in the second over with a lovely inswinger which sneaked between bat and pad.
Dube then had Pathum Nissanka poking at an outswinger, which resulted in a regulation catch for Easwaran at slip. Off the very next delivery, Panchal took a fine catch at gully to send Bhanuka Rajapaksa back.
Sadeera Samarawickrama (31, 56b, 5x4) looked compact, until he chopped a length ball from Warrier onto his stumps. Ashan Priyanjan (22 batting, 42b, 3x4, 1x6) and Niroshan Dickwella (22 batting, 25b, 4x4) managed to survive until close of play.
The score: India-A 622 for five declared in 142 overs (Abhimanyu Easwaran 233, Priyank Panchal 160, Anmolpreet Singh 116 n.o., Siddhesh Lad 76) vs Sri Lanka-A 83 for four in 28 overs (Sadeera Samarawickrama 31, Ashan Priyanjan 22 batting, Niroshan Dickwella 22 batting).
