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.
Result — Sri Lanka A win in Super Over; tense post-match scenes
Sri Lanka A won the match in a Super Over after the chase was tied at 265, Ada Derana reported. Sadeera Samarawickrama anchored the chase with 93 off 113, supported by openers Niroshan Dickwella (37) and Avishka Fernando (22). Batting first in the Super Over, Sri Lanka A set India A 17 to win; the duo of Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Suryansh Shedge fell short, handing the hosts a thrilling result. Mohamed Shiraz and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth led the bowling effort with three wickets each in the regular innings.
The match ended amid tense scenes between players from both sides, Newswire reported. India A youngster Vaibhav Suryavanshi became involved in a heated post-match exchange with Sri Lanka A batter Vishen Halambage; the cause of the confrontation was not immediately clear. The incident capped a dramatic day that featured the 10-run penalty, confusion over Super Over procedures and a no-ball call during the tie-breaker that left India A captain Tilak Varma visibly frustrated.
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; Sri Lanka A defeat India A in a Super Over thriller — Ada Derana, June 15; WATCH: Vaibhav Suryavanshi clash with Sri Lankan player in tense game — Newswire, June 15.
