India A were penalised 10 runs during their innings against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla on Monday after batter Vipraj Nigam was twice found to have run on the protected area of the pitch.
The two five-run penalties were imposed in the 35th and 37th overs of the visitors’ innings, Newswire reported. Under the Laws of Cricket, a first offence in an innings triggers a warning to the batting side; any subsequent transgression results in a five-run penalty being awarded to the fielding side and added to their total.
The opening warning in the innings had been issued earlier to spinning all-rounder Anukul Roy. Although Roy was dismissed soon after — caught behind off Vijayakanth Viyaskanth in the 33rd over — his warning remained in force for the rest of the innings, allowing Nigam’s two breaches to draw automatic penalties.
Despite the deduction, the lower order rescued India A from a precarious 143/7. Nigam, who fell for 51 off 49 balls when he was run out, and Suryansh Shedge — who top-scored with 72 off 66 — added 104 for the eighth wicket to push India A to 265 all out in 49.2 overs, according to the ESPNcricinfo scorecard. Mohamed Shiraz claimed 3/33 and Viyaskanth 3/26 for Sri Lanka A.
The hosts began their chase needing 266 with 10 runs already on the board from the penalty extras. Sri Lanka A were 145 for 5 in 21.3 overs at the time of writing, with Sadeera Samarawickrama unbeaten on 38 and the required rate at 4.24.
The fixture is the fourth match of the Sri Lanka A-Team Tri Series being staged at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. India A’s squad was announced earlier this month, while Sri Lanka A named their squad ahead of the tournament opener.
Sources: Newswire — Why India A faced a 10-run penalty while batting against Sri Lanka A; ESPNcricinfo — Sri Lanka A vs India A, 4th Match, Dambulla, full scorecard.
