Sri Lanka A dominate final day

Sri Lanka A had the better of the final day as the first of the three four-day Tests against India A ended in a draw at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad. Set 184 to win from 31 overs, India A slumped to 47 for 4, before Mohammad Kaif and Ajay Ratra shut the door on any chances of an upset. Kaif made an unbeaten 50 to thwart the Sri Lankans, who had earlier extended their second innings to 308, after resuming at 192 for 4.

India A's bid for the runs never got going, and Shiv Sundar Das - leading the side - was the first to go, skying a catch to Naveed Nawaz at mid-on off the bowling of Tharanga Lakshita. Hemang Badani followed him back to the pavilion, for a first-ball duck as the nerves started to show. Lasith Malinga picked up the wickets of Gautam Gambhir, Sridharan Sriram and Rohan Gavaskar, but time - and Kaif - prevented any realistic bid for victory.

Earlier, Nawaz missed out on a century, caught by Gambhir off the bowling of Romesh Powar for 92. But Anushka Polonowita - who made 41 - and Omesh Wijesiriwardene (19), frustrated the Indians no end as the day wore on.

Munaf Patel, who like Powar finished with four wickets, was even warned by umpire Devendra Sharma after a throw to the keeper's end bounced and struck Wijesiriwardene on the helmet. It was that sort of day for India A, who dominated the match for three days, only to lose their way in the final stages.