Nuwanindu Fernando‘s unbeaten 65 kept Sri Lanka A in the contest on the second day of their first unofficial Test against India A in Galle. At stumps, Sri Lanka A were 113 for 2, still trailing by 339 runs after India A had declared on 452 for 6, on the back of Dhruv Jurel‘s 141 not out.

Jurel resumed the day unbeaten on 68, in a century partnership with Shaik Rasheed, who was on 53 not out himself. Rasheed fell soon after – bowled by right-arm fast bowler Chamika Gunasekara – on 63, but Jurel continued his march from the other end. He hit 13 fours and one six during his century, accompanied by Harsh Dubey through the latter half of his innings.

The two put up an 86-run partnership for the sixth wicket, with Dubey scoring a 51-ball 30 of his own before he became Gunasekara’s third and final victim of the innings. India A batted on for just two more overs before declaring.

In response, Sri Lanka A were in early trouble at 38 for 2 when they lost both their openers. Niroshan Dickwella was dismissed by Anshul Kamboj in the fourth over, while Pawantha Weerasinghe had his stumps castled by Yash Thakur in the 11th.

Thereafter, Nuwanidu put up an unbroken 75-run partnership with Ashen Bandara (18* off 51) to keep Sri Lanka A in the contest. Compared to Bandara’s more measured innings, Nuwanidu himself scored seven fours in his 103-ball effort. The pair will now resume their innings with two days of play in hand, and a 339-run deficit to overcome.