Second unofficial Test: Yash Thakur, Saransh Jain strike twice, but Sahan Arachchige keeps India A at bay

Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige scored an unbeaten 83 to guide his team to 288 for 5 at stumps on the opening day of the second unofficial Test against India A in Galle on Thursday.

India A bowlers Yash Thakur and Saransh Jain picked up two wickets each, but Sri Lanka A stayed in control after recovering from a steady start.

Arachchige remained unbeaten on 83 from 148 balls, hitting nine fours and a six. He also shared a 99-run partnership for the fifth wicket with wicketkeeper Anjala Bandara, who made 42 before being bowled by off-spinner Jain.

Thakur finished with figures of 2 for 32 from 14 overs, while Jain returned 2 for 77 from 24 overs. Fast bowler Gurnoor Brar claimed one wicket for 49 runs in 15 overs.

Leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari, playing his first red-ball match in six years, went wicketless, conceding 64 runs from his 16 overs.

On a slow Galle pitch, wickets were hard to come by. Sri Lanka A openers Pawantha Weerasinghe (39) and Sohan di Livera (28) put together 53 runs for the first wicket.

Thakur provided India A with the breakthrough when Di Livera edged one to Devdutt Padikkal at slip.

Weerasinghe batted through most of the morning session before Brar dismissed him just before lunch. The left-hander edged one behind to captain and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel.

Nuwanidu Fernando (44) and Ashen Bandara (34) then added 57 runs for the third wicket to keep Sri Lanka A in a strong position.

Jain broke the stand by having Fernando caught by Padikkal. Thakur then removed Ashen, who edged behind to Jurel.

Fast bowler Auqib Nabi could not trouble the Sri Lanka A openers with the new ball and finished with figures of 0 for 50 from 15 overs.

Brar bowled with more pace and used the short ball effectively but ended with only one wicket.

Ansari had a difficult outing, bowling several loose deliveries that allowed the batters to score freely. His leg-spin did not trouble the Sri Lanka A batters, who capitalised whenever he missed his length.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka A 1st Innings: 288/5 (Sahan Arachchige 83 batting, Nuwanidu Fernando 44, Anjala Bandara 42, Yash Thakur 2/32, Saransh Jain 2/77, Gurnoor Brar 1/49).