Amit Bhandari finished with figures of 6 for 55 as he scalped the last two Sri Lanka A batsman in the second over on the second day of their four-day match here on Monday. The visitors were all out for 244 in the first innings and in reply India A were 304 for six at the end of the day’s play. Resuming from the overnight score of 243 for eight, Sri Lanka A could add only one run to the total as Bhandari struck in the first ball of day’s second over trapping Taranga Lakshitha in front of the stumps. Lasith Marlinga was out next ball caught behind. O Wijisiriwardane, who was not out on 49 when the day’s play began could not complete his half century and was not out on 49. India A began their innings well and the openers captain SS Das and Gautam Gambhir put on 66 runs before Gambhir was caught behind by Jayawardane of O Wijisiriwardane. Mohammed Kaif began his innings cautiously and took his time before playing shots. But Das could not carry on for long and was caught behind in Lakshitha’s over. That brought Hemang Badani to the crease and he took little time in getting on with his stroke play. He played some fluent cuts and drives and even sent one over the boundary off left arm spinner Herath’s bowling. Badani after reaching his half century failed to capitalise on the start and was out when he cut Herath uppishly into the hands of T Kandamby in the point. Badani and Kaif added 79 runs for the fourth wicket. Kaif, however, continued to play a slow innings and looked all set for a big score but he soon fell to Herath as he tried to play the spinner defensively but the ball lobbed up after taking the bat and pad and was lapped up by silly point fielder Lanka D’Silva. SCOREBOARD
