Sarandeep steers India 'A'
to two-wicket victory

Tailender Sarandeep Singh hammered two boundaries in the final over to fetch India 'A' a thrilling two-wicket victory over Sri Lanka 'A' in the third unofficial one-day cricket international in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, on Monday.

As the rain-hit five-match series finally got underway under bright sunshine at the Rangiri Dambulla stadium, India successfully chased the hosts' 235 and took a 1-0 lead in the series which has been reduced to a three-match affair.

Sarandeep took charge after India, cruising along at 212 for four in 45 overs, lost four wickets for 19 runs to find themselves in a spot, the damage being done by former Test fast bowler Pramodya Wickramasinghe, who snatched three quick wickets.

With six runs needed off the last over, the off-spinner coolly dispatched the first two balls from Chamara Silva to the ropes to see his team through.

The Indian innings had earlier been bolstered by half-centuries by opener Gautam Gambhir, Rohan Gavaskar and Jai Prakash Yadav.

Earlier, the hosts recovered from a bad start to post a modest 235 for 9, with skipper T M Dilshan and Silva retrieving the innings with a 96-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Both made half-centuries, while left-hander Navid Nawaz and right-handed youngster Anushka Polonowita made useful contributions.

Test discards Avishka Gunawardena and Romesh Kaluwitharana, from whom an explosive start was expected, failed to survive the early overs, and Sri Lanka 'A' found themselves reduced to 21 for two.

Nawaz and Dilshan steadied the innings, but it was the fourth-wicket stand between Dilshan and Silva that gave substance to the team's total.

The visitors' spin duo of leggie Amit Mishra and off- spinner Sarandeep struck in quick succession to take four wickets and reduce Sri Lanka to 199 for 7.

After Silva holed out to Balaji for a well-made 56, Sarandeep, who joined the junior team after the Test series against West Indies, had Dilshan caught in the close-in field, Pushpakumara bowled, and Kaushal Lokuarachchi caught behind.

Dilshan's painstaking 66 off 115 balls contained only three fours. Silva's knock was more enterprising, as he reached 50 in just 54 balls. Balaji, who had earlier castled Kaluwitharana for an early breakthrough, took two late wickets, and Polonowita, who came in at number six, was left unbeaten on 31. Sarandeep finished with three for 49 and Balaji with three wickets for 29 runs.

India's reply had a brisk beginning, with right-hander Akash Chopra scoring early boundaries, but he was dismissed for 22. Kanitkar too flattered to deceive after a flurry of three fours. However, the left-handed pair of Gautam Gambhir and Rohan Gavaskar was involved in a 61-run stand before the former was out for a well-made 60 off 85 balls, with five fours.

Mail Cricket Editor