Afghanistan A edged out India A by four runs (DLS method) in a rain-turned-triumph of the Sri Lanka A-Team Tri-Series match at Dambulla. While Prabhsimran Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad and captain Tilak Varma recorded half-centuries, India A could not keep their noses ahead of the updated target.
Batting first, India A scored a mammoth total of 349 for 9 in their 49 overs. Afghanistan A, however, responded well before rain and poor visibility brought play to a premature end with them four runs ahead on the DLS method.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Provides Another Strong Start
Young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi carried on with his fine form after doing well for India A against Sri Lanka A. The left-hander came out all guns blazing, smashing a boundary of the first two deliveries he faced and putting pressure on the Afghanistan bowlers.
Sooryavanshi is a genuine off-side player and afforded delightful gaps through cover and point with remarkable consistency. He then scored off 66 balls to guide India A to reach 50 in the first five overs. Adams hit nine boundaries in a quickfire innings of 44 off just 22 balls before he nicked behind to the keeper, as he could not clear the ropes.
Prabhsimran Anchors the Innings
Sooryavanshi played the role of an aggressor, while Prabhsimran Singh consolidated with a combination of calm and cautious batsmanship. He made the most of anything loose, punishing delivery after delivery as bowlers missed their lengths.
The wicketkeeper-batter had a fifty before that well-poised innings off 39 balls and never looked back, finding boundaries easily in the middle overs. His important partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad provided India A with the momentum.
The highlight of the innings saw Prabhsimran scoring a fluent 84 off 69 balls studded with all class drives. His innings that had set the stage for a daunting total ended while trying an audacious paddle shot.
Gaikwad and Tilak Build on the Platform
Ruturaj Gaikwad – who struck a century in the last match – played an important part again. He began slowly before finding his rhythm and rotating the strike while Prabhsimran Harpreet Sohta dominated the scoring,
After Prabhsimran’s dismissal, it was left to Gaikwad and captain Tilak Varma to restore some order during the middle overs. The duo put together 78 runs and kept India A firmly on the path to a big total.
Gaikwad, who scored his second consecutive fifty, was dismissed for 66 in a bid to up the scoring rate. Tilak got into the act as well and cracked another half-century, scoring 66. Suryansh Shedge and Anukul Roy produced valuable late contributions to help India A 349 for 9.
Afghanistan A Stay Ahead of DLS Target
The match was rain-affected and Afghanistan A were set a target of 294 runs in 38 overs. Given the possibility of weather disrupting the flow, Afghan batters went all out for the chase.
Their openers Hassan Eisakhil and captain Imran Mir put together a quickfire 63-run opening stand. Eisakhil did score a brisk 34 from 29 balls before being dismissed by Arshad Khan with a short-ball plan.
The bowling attack of India A, however, was not as deep and could not create enough pressure despite the early breakthrough. The most successful of the bowlers was spinner Anukul Roy, who took Khalid Taniwal, but other than that it was a case of little penetration from the rest of the attack.
As for the chase, Imran Mir guided it beautifully and was unbeaten on 75 of 70 balls. Bahir Shah gave him the requisite support, remaining not out on 51. Their partnership held Afghanistan A at a comfortable distance in front of the DLS target.
Afghanistan A were ahead of the adjusted target by four runs when rain and poor light brought play to a stop, sealing a narrow yet vital victory and inflicting defeat on India A for the first time in their tri-series campaign.