Auqib Nabi's 4-wicket haul gives India A 170-run lead vs Sri Lanka A
Synopsis
Auqib Nabi Dar's 4-58 dismantled Sri Lanka A's lower order in Galle, sealing a 122-run first-innings lead for India A and an overall advantage of 170 runs with a full day to play. With India's Test tour of Sri Lanka in August approaching, Nabi's performance is a timely audition for senior selection.
Key Takeaways
Auqib Nabi Dar claimed 4 for 58 to bowl Sri Lanka A out for 330 on day three in Galle on 27 June .
India A, who declared at 452 for 6 , hold a first-innings lead of 122 runs .
Nuwanidu Fernando (84), Sahan Arachchige (72), and Ashen Bandara (70) were the top scorers for Sri Lanka A.
India A reached 48 for no loss in their second innings, extending the overall lead to 170 runs by stumps.
Sai Sudharsan retired hurt on 7 , but Devdutt Padikkal and Ayush Pandey both remained unbeaten on 20 .
Nabi's haul comes ahead of India's two-match Test series in Sri Lanka in August .
Pacer Auqib Nabi Dar claimed a four-wicket haul to anchor India A's bowling effort as the visitors extended their grip on the first four-day match against Sri Lanka A in Galle on 27 June, building an overall lead of 170 runs by stumps on day three. India A, who had declared their first innings at 452 for 6, bowled Sri Lanka A out for 330 to establish a first-innings advantage of 122 runs, before reaching 48 for no loss in their second essay.
Sri Lanka A's Resistance
Resuming the day at 113 for 2, Sri Lanka A's top order put up a determined fight. Nuwanidu Fernando and Ashen Bandara stitched together a 105-run third-wicket partnership to frustrate the Indian attack through the morning session. Fernando, who looked well set for a century, was dismissed by seamer Yash Thakur for 84 — just 16 runs short of three figures.
Captain Sahan Arachchige then joined Bandara and adopted an aggressive approach against India A's spinners, dispatching Saransh Jain over the ropes as the hosts reached 204 for 3 at lunch. Arachchige brought up his half-century with two sixes off Harsh Dubey, while a Bandara boundary completed a 117-run fourth-wicket alliance. The afternoon saw a brief weather interruption, but the Sri Lankan batters maintained their composure.
India A's Spinners Strike Back
Off-spinner Jain broke the threatening Bandara-Arachchige stand by removing Bandara (70), with Devdutt Padikkal pouching a sharp catch. Left-arm spinner Dubey then dismissed the dangerous Arachchige (72), again with Padikkal taking the catch. A brief lower-order counter-attack by Ravindu Fernando and Anjala Bandara nudged Sri Lanka A past the 300-run mark, but Nabi struck in consecutive overs just before tea to leave the hosts at 315 for 7.
Nabi Wraps Up the Tail
After the tea interval, Dubey removed Kavindu Pathiratne before Chamika Gunasekara and Dilum Sudeera delayed the finish for nearly ten overs. Nabi ended the resistance by dismissing Gunasekara and Dulaj Samudhita on back-to-back deliveries, finishing with figures of 4 for 58. Sri Lanka A were bowled out for 330 in 101.4 overs.
India A Consolidate in Second Innings
In their second innings, India A lost the services of Sai Sudharsan — who had struck a century in the first innings — to a retirement hurt on 7. However, Devdutt Padikkal (20 not out) and Ayush Pandey (20 not out) negotiated the remaining overs without further alarm, taking India A to 48 for no loss in 17 overs and stretching the overall lead to 170 runs by stumps.
Nabi's performance carries added significance ahead of India's two-match Test series against Sri Lanka scheduled for August, with the pacer staking a strong claim for senior selection.
Brief Scores: India A 452/6 declared and 48/0 (17 overs) lead Sri Lanka A 330 all out (101.4 overs; Nuwanidu Fernando 84, Sahan Arachchige 72; Auqib Nabi Dar 4-58) by 170 runs.
Point of View
But the more telling detail is the structural dominance India A have built: a 452-run first-innings declaration followed by a complete bowling-out of the opposition is the template a Test selection panel notices. The Arachchige-Bandara partnership showed Sri Lanka A are not without fight, yet India A's spinners and pace attack worked in tandem effectively enough to suggest this squad has genuine depth. With India's Test tour of Sri Lanka in August, this match is as much an audition as a fixture — and Nabi, Dubey, and Padikkal have all raised their hands.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Auqib Nabi Dar's bowling figures in the match against Sri Lanka A?
Auqib Nabi Dar finished with figures of 4 for 58, dismissing four Sri Lanka A batters to help bowl the hosts out for 330. His wickets were crucial in breaking lower-order resistance both before and after the tea interval on day three.
What is India A's lead after day three against Sri Lanka A in Galle?
India A hold an overall lead of 170 runs after day three. They had a first-innings advantage of 122 runs — having declared at 452 for 6 against Sri Lanka A's 330 — and then reached 48 for no loss in their second innings by stumps.
Who were the top scorers for Sri Lanka A in their first innings?
Nuwanidu Fernando top-scored with 84, while captain Sahan Arachchige contributed 72 and Ashen Bandara made 70. Fernando and Bandara shared a 105-run third-wicket stand, and Arachchige and Bandara added 117 for the fourth wicket.
Why did Sai Sudharsan retire hurt in India A's second innings?
Sai Sudharsan retired hurt on 7 during India A's second innings, though the nature of the injury was not detailed. He had scored a century in the first innings as an opener. Devdutt Padikkal and Ayush Pandey, both unbeaten on 20, ensured India A closed the day without further loss.
Why does this match matter for India's upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka?
India are scheduled to play a two-match Test series in Sri Lanka in August 2025. The four-day A-team match in Galle serves as a key selection trial, with performances from players like Auqib Nabi Dar, Harsh Dubey, and Devdutt Padikkal directly relevant to squad considerations for the senior tour.
