Gaikwad century powers India A to thrilling win over Sri Lanka A

Ruturaj Gaikwad struck a composed century while teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showed flashes of brilliance as India A edged past Sri Lanka A cricket team by eight runs in a tense one-day tri-series clash in Dambulla.

Making his India A debut amid massive anticipation, 15-year-old Sooryavanshi made an eye-catching start with a boundary off his very first ball. The youngster smashed four boundaries during a quickfire 14 off 12 deliveries before falling to a sharp diving catch from Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige.

The innings, however, belonged to Gaikwad, who anchored India A’s total with a patient 101 off 114 balls. Drafted into the squad late after Riyan Parag was ruled out injured, Gaikwad adapted brilliantly to the slow surface and controlled the middle overs with smart strike rotation and calculated aggression.

Batting at No. 4, Gaikwad shared a crucial 150-run partnership with captain Tilak Varma to guide India A to 277. The century was also a landmark moment in his career, as he became the fastest player in List A cricket history to score 21 centuries, achieving the feat in just 96 matches.

Sri Lanka A’s chase was led by Arachchige’s fighting 74, but India A’s bowlers held their nerve in the closing stages. All-rounders Suryansh Shedge and Anukul Roy made key contributions, with Roy breaking important partnerships through the middle overs as Sri Lanka A were eventually bowled out for 269 in the 49th over.

The victory gives India A a winning start to the tour, while Sooryavanshi will now look to make a bigger impact in the remaining games before joining India’s senior squad for the upcoming T20I tour of Ireland.

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