5 wickets uprooted within 30 runs…The killer bowling of Jammu and Kashmir’s dreaded bowler destroyed Sri Lanka ‘A’.

New Delhi. It is often said in cricket that the second new ball can change the course of the match, and Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Aaqib Nabi proved this to be true literally. On the third day of the first unofficial Test match being played between India ‘A’ and Sri Lanka ‘A’, India ‘A’ strengthened its position in the match due to the lethal bowling of Aaqib Nabi. Nabi bowled a spell with the second new ball which broke the backbone of Sri Lankan batting.

The host Sri Lanka ‘A’ team, which was looking in a strong position at one time, collapsed like a house of cards in front of the havoc of Auqib Nabi. Nabi bowled with great discipline and accuracy and took 4 important wickets for just 58 runs in 19.4 overs. Thanks to his strong performance, India ‘A’ bowled out Sri Lanka ‘A’ for 330 runs in the first innings and took a very important lead of 122 runs on the basis of first innings.

Combative innings of Bandara and Arachchige
Earlier, on the third day of the match, Sri Lanka ‘A’ started playing ahead of its yesterday’s score of 113 runs for 2 wickets. The morning session was challenging for the Indian bowlers. The middle order of the Sri Lankan team bravely faced the Indian spinners and fast bowlers. Ashen Bandara and captain Sahan Arachige took the responsibility of getting Sri Lanka out of the crisis. Both the batsmen spent time on the pitch and tried to push the Indian attack on the back foot.

Captain Sahan Arachchige was seen in a very aggressive mood. He played shots all around the field targeting Indian spinners Saransh Jain and Harsh Dubey. Arachige scored 72 runs in his innings of 129 balls, hitting 5 brilliant fours and 3 skyscraper sixes. At the other end, Ashen Bandara stood firm like a rock and played a patient inning of 70 runs facing 162 balls.

Important partnership between Bandara-Arachige
Ashen Bandara and captain Sahan Arachige made a brilliant century partnership of 117 runs for the third wicket, which at one time took Sri Lanka’s score to 260 runs for 3 wickets. India’s spinners did the work of breaking this dangerous pair. Saransh Jain and Harsh Dubey finally changed their strategy and showed the way to the pavilion by getting both the frozen batsmen caught out by Devdutt Padikkal.

After 268 runs for 5 wickets, Anjala Bandara (15) and Ravindu Fernando (22) added 32 runs for the sixth wicket and took Sri Lanka beyond 300. Sri Lanka’s score was 300 runs for 5 wickets and it seemed that the host team would get close to India’s score. But then the Indian captain took the second new ball and handed the ball to Aaqib Nabi. The moment Nabi came, he turned the tables of the match. Presenting an excellent display of his swing and seam, he got Anjala Bandara caught by Devdutt Padikkal and Ravindu Fernando by Ayush Pandey. The Sri Lankan tail batsmen looked completely helpless in front of the new ball. Sri Lanka ‘A’ lost its last 5 wickets in just 30 runs and the entire team was reduced to 330 runs.

India’s solid start, SAI Sudarshan ‘retired hurt’
After gaining a lead of 122 runs in the first innings, by the end of the third day’s play, India ‘A’ had scored 48 runs in its second innings without losing any wicket. In this way, India’s total lead has now become 170 runs. However, India suffered a small setback in the second innings when century-winning opener of the first innings, Sai Sudarshan, retired hurt and walked out of the field on a personal score of just 4 runs. After Sudarshan went out, Devdutt Padikkal came to the crease. Till the end of the day’s play, openers Ayush Pandey (20 runs not out) and Devdutt Padikkal (20 runs not out) remained at the crease. Both the batsmen batted intelligently without taking any extra risk and did not allow any damage to India till stumps.