Tensions flare as Sri Lanka A deny India A in Super Over thriller

In a dramatic encounter at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Sri Lanka A defeated India A in a thrilling Super Over finish in the tri-series.

After Sri Lanka A won the toss and elected to bowl first, India A's top-order collapsed with openers Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Prabhsimran Singh out by the seventh over. A 52-run stand between skipper Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad followed, before India lost their next five wickets for just 52 runs. Vijayakanth Viyaskanth picked up three for 26, including Gaikwad, Nishant Sindhu and Anukul Roy.

India A slumped to 143 for 7 before a lower-order rescue act by Suryansh Shedge and Vipraj Nigam. Shedge top-scored with 72 off 66 balls, while Nigam made 51 from 49 before being run out. The duo added a 104-run partnership. Shedge was the last man out, caught off Mohamed Shiraz, as India A were bowled out for 265 in 49.2 overs.

India A received two five-run penalties for running on the protected middle area of the pitch, meaning Sri Lanka A started their chase at 10 for 0.

Sri Lanka A lost openers quickly after a half-century stand. Sadeera Samarawickrama anchored the chase with 93. He built partnerships after a collapse of 3 for 34 that saw Niroshan Dickwella dismissed. Wanuja Sahan (25) and Viyaskanth (18) helped reduce the equation to 12 required at run-a-ball.

India A's bowlers fought back to tie the scores with a run-out on the final ball, sparking heated discussions as Tilak Varma argued with umpires over a leg bye.

In the Super Over, Sri Lanka A smashed 18 runs, including a controversial six off a no-ball that India A contested again. Chasing 19, India A sent out Shedge and Sooryavanshi. Kugathas Mathulan bowled well under pressure, and despite Sooryavanshi hitting a boundary off the penultimate ball, India A fell 7 runs short. The match ended with heated on-field tensions and physical contact between players.

Brief Scores: India A 265 all out in 49.2 overs (Shedge 72, Nigam 51; Viyaskanth 3-26, Shiraz 3-33) tied with Sri Lanka A 265/9 in 50 overs (Samarawickrama 93, Dickwella 37; Badoni 2-45). Sri Lanka A won the Super Over.