Spinner dilum sudeera

Spinner Dilum Sudeera: Left-handed batter Devdutt Padikkal smashed a fine half-century before persistent inclement weather resulted in a draw on the fourth and final day of the first four-day game between India A and Sri Lanka A on Sunday.

Chasing an improbable target of 312 runs in the fourth innings, Sri Lanka A were at 70/2 when play was officially called off following multiple delays due to rain. Starting their day at 53 without loss, India A progressed smoothly via an 82-run stand between opener Ayush Pandey and Padikkal.

Spinner Dilum Sudeera provided the initial breakthrough by dismissing Pandey for 38, which was followed by Ravindu Fernando trapping Ruturaj Gaikwad (1) lbw to reduce India A to 137/2. Padikkal, who notched up a solid 67, anchored the innings alongside skipper, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, through a brief 44-run stand.