India A vs Sri Lanka A live score, tri-series final: The title match has been put in a different light by a teenager at the top of the order. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has gone off for an 11-ball fifty – the quickest in men’s List A – and with India A up to 76/0 in 4 overs in Dambulla, Sri Lanka A are left to figure things out.
Sooryavanshi’s blaze flips the final
This one had some of an edge to it before play even started, and Sooryavanshi made the most of it. After being made of for his temperament in a super-over loss to them not long ago, the 15-year-old has answered with a very direct brand of aggression.
He made no bones about what he was after. You can see it in the video that has been going around: he puts his first delivery away for four and doesn’t let up. In a matter of minutes, the final is on his side, with half a dozen big hits coming off the bat.
Sri Lanka A thought they would have him with some early off-spin, but it didn’t work. Sahan Arachchige gave up 11 in his opening over while the left-handers for India A went about their business in the powerplay with no hesitation.
The over that broke Sri Lanka A’s plans
Then came Mohamed Shiraz’s over and the game was really on. They were put to the sword for 26 runs. 4, 6, 6, 0, 6, 4 – it was a sledgehammer of an over that put India A past 40 and made a mockery of the new ball.
Shiraz was all over the place with his lines and Sooryavanshi was there to make him pay. A pull here, a drive to a full one, the occasional slash over cover. The field is in disarray and the onus is on the bowlers now.
Score surge and a chance that slipped
At 76/0 in the fourth over, it’s more than just the rate of scoring; it’s the way they are holding court. Neither opener has given an inch, whether it’s to pace or spin.
For a moment, Sri Lanka A had a hand in it when Priyansh Arya, on 19, put a flat-bat on one and it went to mid-off. The fielder dived and had it in his hands but let it go. A miss like that only adds to the hurt.
Priyansh had been in fine form, hitting a six off Arachchige and then a well-timed cut for four. The idea was to put the squeeze on from the get-go, not to be conservative in the first powerplay.
A quick rundown of how we stand:
– India A 76/0 in 4 overs
– Sooryavanshi with a 11-ball fifty
– Five of each: sixes and fours
– An over that ran to 26
– Priyansh let go on 19
The record in context
In 11 balls, Sooryavanshi has put together a half-century that makes a 20-year old mark in men’s List A look like yesterday’s news.
He put a group of well-known rapid-fire knocks in the rearview with sheer audacity and pace.
Just to put it in perspective: K Weeraratne’s 12-ball fifty is up there, as are the 13 from NLTC Perera and 14 from RK Kleinveldt. Even AJ Hollioake and Salman Butt had to go to 15 for theirs. The kid has made some room in Dambulla.
Toss, selection and the road ahead
Sri Lanka A’s skipper Sahan Arachchige put the bat down after the toss, banking on some early wobble and the kind of pressure that comes with a big chase. It was a no-brainer until the opening overs wrote a new story.
You can have a fair tussle on this Dambulla pitch. This tri-series hasn’t been a batting festival and 270 or so has been about right. India A have put a dent in that.
India’s side was put together with some fine-tuning. Ashok Sharma for Anshul Kamboj – he was brought in when Yudhvir Singh went down with injury. And you have Kumar Kushagra at the stumps after his half-century versus Afghanistan A.
No room for Prabhsimran Singh, Ayush Badoni, Arshad Khan or Kamboj. They’ve also put three spinners and three pacers in the mix, which is what the conditions here call for.
The plan up top was by design. Before the final, the India A camp put their weight behind Sooryavanshi’s no-nonsense approach even if the numbers were underwhelming. In a series with eyes on it, he made his move on the one day that counts.
What it means from here
A start like this rewrites the powerplay. Now the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tilak Varma can be a bit more at ease and play to the situation. There’s a buffer in place.
It also throws up a few conundrums for Sri Lanka A. Arachchige had him out with an offie earlier in the tournament, but 11 runs have come through his end today and he may have to look at his fields and match-ups again.
Then there is the mental side of it. After losing to them before and a bit of a row with the young opener, the build-up was fraught. The answer they’ve given has been firm and in control.
Discipline will be key. If the Lankans can be a little wiser with their lengths and keep the ring field in order, they can still pull India A back to that 270 mark. But every time the ball goes over the rope, the target gets fatter.
India A need to make something of this. With a fresh ball and a quick outfield, a few wickets in hand could see a flashy innings become a statement score. They’ve set the scene.
But make no mistake, the 11-ball fifty from a 15-year-old, with five sixes and five fours to his name, has put its own stamp on the day. You don’t get much louder than that in Dambulla.
