India A vs Sri Lanka A, 2nd Unofficial Test: Fast bowler Gurnoor Brar starred with a superb 10-wicket match haul as India A crushed Sri Lanka A by 10 wickets in the second unofficial Test in Galle on Sunday, July 5. With the first unofficial Test ending in a draw, the win helped India A clinch the two-match series 1-0.
India A’s victory was built on a complete team performance, but two players stood out the most — Sai Sudharsan, who scored a brilliant 168, and Gurnoor Brar, who returned with match figures of 10 for 145 to break Sri Lanka A’s resistance.
India A entered the final day needing just 33 runs after bowling Sri Lanka A out for 209 in their second innings. The chase was completed without any trouble as Sai Sudharsan remained unbeaten on 25 and Aman Mokhade made 11 not out, guiding the visitors to 36/0 and a comfortable 10-wicket win.
Gurnoor Brar destroys Sri Lanka A with 10 wickets in the match
The biggest story of the match was the bowling of Gurnoor Brar, who produced a red-ball performance of real quality in Galle. The India A pacer picked up 4 for 77 in the first innings and followed it up with 6 for 68 in the second innings, finishing with a superb 10-wicket match haul.
Sri Lanka A resumed the match hoping to fight their way back, but Brar kept striking at regular intervals and never allowed them to settle. His pace, bounce and control proved too much for the Sri Lankan batters, especially in the second innings where he ran through the middle and lower order.
Brar was well supported by Saransh Jain, who also played a key role with the ball. The spinner took 4 for 92 in the first innings and 2 for 66 in the second, helping India A maintain pressure from both ends.
Sai Sudharsan’s 168 puts India A in control
While Brar finished the match in style, India A had already taken charge thanks to a huge first-innings total of 543/9 declared. The foundation of that score was laid by Sai Sudharsan, who played a superb knock of 168.
Sudharsan’s innings gave India A complete control after Sri Lanka A had posted 366 in their first innings. He found strong support from Devdutt Padikkal, who fell just short of a hundred after scoring 94. Lower down the order, Dhruv Jurel added 53, while Saransh Jain chipped in with a valuable 70, stretching India A’s lead beyond Sri Lanka A’s reach.
By the time India A declared on 543/9, they had secured a first-innings lead of 177 runs, which put Sri Lanka A under major pressure heading into their second innings.
Sri Lanka A’s fight fades despite Ashen Bandara’s 87
Sri Lanka A had some notable contributions in the match, but they could not convert them into a challenge strong enough to stop India A. In the first innings, Sahan Arachchige top-scored with 127, while Nuwanidu Fernando made 44 to help the hosts reach 366.
However, after conceding a massive lead, Sri Lanka A needed a special effort in the second innings and never quite got it. Ashen Bandara fought hard with 87, but the lack of support from the rest of the batting unit hurt the hosts badly. Brar’s relentless spell meant Sri Lanka A were bundled out for 209, leaving India A with a tiny target.
India A seal series 1-0 after first Test draw
The result confirmed India A’s 1-0 series win in the two-match unofficial Test series. The opening match had ended in a draw, so the second game effectively became the series decider — and India A responded in dominant fashion.
For the visitors, this was an important all-round performance. Sudharsan once again showed why he is highly rated in India’s red-ball setup, while Gurnoor Brar’s 10-wicket match haul could become one of the standout performances of the India A tour.
India A will leave the match pleased not only with the series win but also with the manner in which it was achieved. A massive first-innings batting effort, a commanding bowling display, and a clinical finish on the final day made it a near-perfect outing for the visitors in Galle.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka A 366 (Sahan Arachchige 127, Nuwanidu Fernando 44; Gurnoor Brar 4-77, Saransh Jain 4-92) & 209 (Ashen Bandara 87; Gurnoor Brar 6-68, Saransh Jain 2-66) lost to India A 543/9 decl. (Sai Sudharsan 168, Devdutt Padikkal 94; Keshara Nuwantha 5-159) & 36-0 (Sai Sudharsan 25*, Aman Mokhade 11*) by 10 wickets.
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