Middle order batsman T Kandamby and skipper Naved Nawaz scored patient half centuries to help Sri Lanka `A' declare their first innings at a modest 235 for nine on the opening day of their three-day match against India Under-19 at Madhavrao Scindia cricket ground, Rajkot on Tuesday.
In reply, Indian Colts were struggling at 76 for three wickets including that of their captain Ambati Rayudu when the stumps were drawn.
Put into bat, the visitors were put in trouble from the very beginning as the Indian juniors came up with an impressive bowling and fielding performance.
Placed at 113 for five at one stage, the Lankans made recovery through Kandamby (73 in 104 balls) and Nawaz (52 in 131 balls) who added 115 runs for the sixth wicket before Indian seamers R P Singh and V R V Singh struck back with three wickets apeice to restrict the Lankans to 235 for nine.
Early morning moisture aided the bowlers and allrounder Robin Uthappa struck the first blow removing opener T Paranvithane, when the latter knicked an outgoing delivery to wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik.
His partner Ian Daniels also departed early and the scoreboard read 70 for two, Daniels was caught in the deep by Rakesh Solanki off spinner Amol Kokje.
The new batsman Nuwan Shiromal fell prey to a billiant pick up and direct hit to the stumps by Uthappa while trying to take a cheeky single at point. The seamers, then, cleaned up the tail and Lanka declared their innings at 235 for nine.
Uthappa, who had smashed an unbeaten 88 against Sri Lanka Colts in the Asia Cup final in Lahore on November six, however, failed to shine with the bat, departing for nought, when Indian Colts began their first essay. He was caught by keeper Jayawardane off Wijesiriwardance.
Skipper Rayadu and opener Sachin Dholpure also did not last long leaving the hosts precariously placed at 76 for 3.
Stylish southpaw Rakesh Solanki (Baroda) and Delhi lad Abhishek Sharma remained unbeaten at close.
Scoreboard:
Sri Lanka `A' Ist Innings:
T Paranvithane c Karthik b Uthappa 18
Ian Daniels c Solanki b Kokje 31
N Shiromal run out (Uthappa) 14
N Nawaz c Raina b VRV Singh 52
A Pollonowita b VRV Singh 11
P Jayawardene lbw R P Singh 5
T Kandambu c Uthappa b R P Singh 73
K Weeraratne c Karthik b R P Singh 0
O Wijesiriwardane b VRV Singh 2
Mudalige not out 0
Extras: (b 11, lb 6, nb 6, w 6) 29
Total: (For 9 wickets decl in 73.1 overs) 235
Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-70, 3-80, 4-99, 5-113, 6-228, 7-232, 8-235, 9-235.
Bowling: VRV Singh 13.1-1-37-3, R P Singh 19-5-54-3, R Uthappa 6-1-25-1, Amol Kokje 22-1-57-1, A Sharma 10-2-34-1, S Raina 3-0-11-0.
India Under-19 Ist Innings:
R Uthappa c Jayawardene b Wijisiriwardene 0
S Dholpure c Daniels b Lakshshita 11
R Solanki batting 27
A Rayadu c Jayawardene b Weeraratne 14
A Sharma batting 12
Extras: (nb 3, w 1, lb 8) 12
Total: (For 3 wickets in 14 overs) 76
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-22, 3-55.
Bowling: O Wijisiriwardene 4-1-17-1, Lakshshita 5-1-22-1, Weeraratne 3-0-21-1, Mudalige 2-0-8-0.
