Sai Sudharsan hits second successive century as India A dominate Sri Lanka A on Day 2

Sai Sudharsan's second consecutive century and Devdutt Padikkal's unbeaten 94 guided India A to a commanding 247/1 on Day 2 of the second unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A, trailing the hosts' first-innings total by 119 runs

Galle (Sri Lanka): Opener Sai Sudharsan continued his rich vein of form, notching up a second successive hundred of the series as India A finished Day 2 of the second unofficial Test at a strong 247 for one here on Friday.

India A now trail by 119 runs, after bowling out their Sri Lankan counterparts for 366 in the first innings. The visitors’ commanding performance was orchestrated by Sudharsan (104 batting), who fetched his 10th first-class hundred off 166 balls, and Devdutt Padikkal, who was equally fluent during his unbeaten 94 off 151 balls.

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The two left-handers added 181 runs for the unfinished second-wicket stand after Aman Mokhade departed for 38. The opening-wicket stand between Sudharsan and Mokhade was worth 66 runs. Off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha ousted Mokhade, but that was the lone success the hosts enjoyed on the day on a rather slow turner.

Thereafter, Sudharsan and Padikkal outclassed the Lankan bowlers with ease. The Tamil Nadu batter reached his fifty in 85 balls with a boundary off pacer Asanka Manoj, and later completed his hundred without much fuss.

Sudharsan had made a century in the drawn first unofficial Test as well, and in all likelihood, he has sealed a place in the soon-to-be-announced India squad for the away two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Padikkal, who is also in contention for a berth in that rubber, was not far behind his colleague, bringing up his fifty in 67 balls, and continued to help Sudharsan grind the Lankan bowlers. It was Padikkal’s second consecutive fifty in this series.

However, the home side had a happy moment earlier in the day as skipper Sahan Arachchige completed his ninth first-class hundred. Arachchige, who resumed the day from his overnight 83, reached the three-figure mark in 176 balls with a single off pacer Gurnoor Brar (4/77). Later, he smashed Brar for a six to reach 127, but two balls later the Indian quick had his revenge, disturbing Arachchige’s stumps.

Veteran off-spinner Saransh Jain (4/92) too had a good outing as India A plucked the remaining five Lankan wickets for 78 runs.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka A: 366 all out in 110 overs (Sahan Arachchige 127; Saransh Jain 4/92, Gurnoor Brar 4/77) vs India A: 247/1 in 63 overs (Sai Sudharsan 104 batting, Devdutt Padikkal 94 batting).