Arachchige's unbeaten 83 steers Sri Lanka A to 288/5 against India A in Galle
Synopsis
Sri Lanka A skipper Sahan Arachchige's composed, unbeaten 83 — capped by a match-defining 99-run fifth-wicket stand with Anjala Bandara — left India A chasing the game on Day 1 in Galle. With the hosts at 288/5 and their captain still at the crease, India A's bowlers face an uphill task on Day 2.
Key Takeaways
Sri Lanka A closed Day 1 at 288/5 in 85 overs against India A in Galle on 2 July .
Sahan Arachchige remained unbeaten on 83 , anchoring the innings throughout the day.
Yash Thakur ( 2-32 ) and Saransh Jain ( 2-77 ) were India A's most effective bowlers.
Arachchige and Anjala Bandara shared a 99-run fifth-wicket stand before Bandara fell for 42 .
India A made three changes , bringing in Aman Mokhade , Zeeshan Ansari , and Gurnoor Brar .
B Sai Sudharsan returned to the side after recovering from a retirement hurt in the first match.
Sahan Arachchige anchored Sri Lanka A to a commanding 288/5 at stumps on Day 1 of the second four-day match against India A in Galle on 2 July, finishing unbeaten on 83. Pacer Yash Thakur and off-spinner Saransh Jain claimed two wickets each for the visitors, though Sri Lanka A's captain ensured the hosts held the upper hand at the close.
India A's Lineup Changes
India A made three changes to their playing eleven ahead of the contest, bringing in Aman Mokhade, Zeeshan Ansari, and Gurnoor Brar in place of Ayush Pandey, Harsh Dubey, and Anshul Kamboj. B Sai Sudharsan, who had retired hurt in the second innings of the first match, was passed fit and returned to the side.
Steady Start for Sri Lanka A
Electing to bat first, Sri Lanka A received a solid platform from openers Pawantha Weerasinghe and Sohan de Livera, who shared a 53-run opening partnership. Thakur struck in the 16th over, removing de Livera for 28. Weerasinghe looked composed before falling to Brar for 39 just before the lunch interval.
Middle-Order Contributions and Key Partnerships
Nuwanidu Fernando injected momentum in the afternoon session, scoring 44 with positive strokeplay that included consecutive boundaries off Brar. He added a 57-run third-wicket stand with Ashen Bandara before Saransh broke the partnership in the 37th over. Ashen Bandara departed for 34 in the 47th over, continuing a pattern of Sri Lanka A batters failing to convert promising starts into larger scores.
Arachchige and Anjala Bandara Frustrate India A
Arachchige combined with Anjala Bandara to take Sri Lanka A to 192/4 by tea, frustrating the Indian attack. The captain brought up his half-century with a boundary off Auqib Nabi in the 64th over. Saransh eventually ended the 99-run fifth-wicket stand in the 77th over, cleaning up Anjala for 42. Arachchige remained unbeaten through the final session as stumps were drawn.
Brief Scores
Sri Lanka A 288/5 in 85 overs (Sahan Arachchige 83 not out, Nuwanidu Fernando 44; Yash Thakur 2-32, Saransh Jain 2-77) vs India A.
Point of View
Yet none could dislodge Arachchige, who batted through three sessions. The pattern of opposition batters failing to convert starts (three dismissals between 28 and 44) actually flatters India A's figures; the 99-run stand that followed suggests the attack lacked the variation to build sustained pressure. With Arachchige set and the tail yet to come, India A will need early breakthroughs on Day 2 to make this contest competitive.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Sri Lanka A's score at stumps on Day 1 against India A in Galle?
Sri Lanka A closed Day 1 at 288/5 in 85 overs, with captain Sahan Arachchige unbeaten on 83. The match is the second four-day game between the two sides, played in Galle on 2 July.
Who were the top scorers for Sri Lanka A on Day 1?
Sahan Arachchige was the standout with an unbeaten 83, while Nuwanidu Fernando contributed 44 and Anjala Bandara added 42 before being dismissed in the 77th over.
Which India A bowlers took wickets on Day 1?
Pacer Yash Thakur (2-32) and off-spinner Saransh Jain (2-77) each claimed two wickets. Gurnoor Brar also contributed with the dismissal of Weerasinghe.
What changes did India A make for the second four-day match?
India A made three changes, bringing in Aman Mokhade, Zeeshan Ansari, and Gurnoor Brar in place of Ayush Pandey, Harsh Dubey, and Anshul Kamboj. B Sai Sudharsan also returned after recovering from a retirement hurt.
Why does this match matter for India A?
The second four-day game is part of India A's preparation cycle against competitive opposition ahead of senior international commitments. A strong bowling performance on Day 2 is critical for India A to stay in the match after Sri Lanka A's solid first-day total.
