Sri Lanka A fightback at Ahmedabad

Prasanna Jayawardene and Naveed Nawaz made vital contributions as Sri Lanka A clawed back into the game against India A on the third day. India A added 65 more runs in the morning session, largely due to a plucky 42 by Ramesh Powar, before they were bowled out for 369. Rangana Herath, the left-arm spinner, was the chief destroyer with 6 for 89.

Both Jayawardene and Nawaz had fallen cheaply in the first innings, but they rescued their team from a precarious situation (49 for 2) by putting on 94 runs for the third wicket. Jayawardene hit nine boundaries, while Nawaz's innings included four boundaries and a six. However, Jayawardene fell 24 runs short of a century when he was bowled by Ramesh Powar. Nawaz remained unbeaten at the end of the day and received good support from Thilina Kandamby, who hung on for more than an hour.

Rohan Gavaskar(60) was the top scorer for India A, and Mohammad Kaif and Hemang Badani chipped in with useful fifties. Ramesh Powar ensured some late-innings impetus with a 61-ball 42, which included six boundaries. But Herath took the last three wickets and finished with six overall. He had also hit a fifty in the first innings, a useful contribution when his team was struggling.