Left-hand batsman Tilana Kandamby slammed an unbeaten half century to steer Sri Lanka 'A' to a three-wicket victory on the penultimate day of the third and final 'Test' and square the series 1-1 against India 'A' at the Brabourne Stadium, in Mumbai, on Monday.
Resuming at their overnight second innings score of six for no loss and chasing a target of 153, the visitors made heavy weather, losing five wickets for 57 runs before Anushka Polonowita (22) and Kandamby (63 not out) steadied the rocking boat with a 53-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Polonowita was dropped by substitute fielder S Sriram in the slips off left-arm spinner Murali Kartik when on eight with the side's total on 78 for five.
Another wicket at this juncture would have cost the Lankans dearly, but the sixth-wicket partnership flourished before they lost two quick wickets, that of Polonowita and Rangan Herath (0).
However, Kandamby found an able ally in Omesh Wijiesiriwardene (12 not out) and the two added 44 crucial runs for the unbroken eighth wicket to take their team to a well-deserved win. Kandamby finished off the match in style, carting Kartik for a huge six.
Kandamby, who got to his 50 in 115 balls, held the innings together and remained unbeaten on 63. During his 195-minute stay he hit four fours and a six.
For India 'A', Bhandari (3-40), Siddharth Trivedi (2-37) and Kartik (2-62) were the wicket takers.
Scoreboard:
India 'A' Ist innings: 172
Sri Lanka 'A' Ist innings: 226
India 'A' 2nd innings: 206
Sri Lanka-A 2nd innings: (overnight six for no loss)
T Parnavitarne c A Ratra b S Trivedi 28
I Daniel c A Rayudu b A Bhandari 9
P Jayawardene c and b A Bhandari 0
J Mubarak lbw S Trivedi 19
N Nawaz lbw M Kartik 0
A Polonowita lbw A Bhandari 22
T Kandamby not out 63
R Herath c A Mishra b M Kartik 0
O Wijesiriwardene not out 12
Extras: (lb-2) 2
Total: (for 7 wkts, 61.3 overs) 155
Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-23, 3-48, 4-57, 5-57, 6-110, 7-111.
Bowling: A Bhandari 18-2-40-3, S Trivedi 15-5-37-2, M Kartik 21.3-6-62-2, A Mishra 5-1-8-0, A Rayudu 2-0-6-0.
