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India A’s meeting with Sri Lanka A in the ongoing tri-series on Monday (June 15) featured more than just an intense contest between bat and ball. While the visitors fought back admirably from a difficult position to post a competitive total of 265, an unusual sequence of events during their innings saw them concede 10 penalty runs. The sanctions stemmed from repeated breaches of the protected area of the pitch, giving Sri Lanka A a valuable head start in the chase and adding an unexpected twist to the encounter.
Why India A faced a 10-run penalty?
The penalty was imposed after all-rounder Vipraj Nigam twice ran through the protected area of the pitch despite prior warnings from the on-field officials. Under the Laws of Cricket, batters are not permitted to run on the central protected strip except in limited circumstances, as doing so can damage the surface and affect playing conditions.
According to the match officials, Nigam first committed the infringement during the latter stages of India A’s innings. The umpires, Prageeth Rambukwella and Shantha Fonseka, warned the batting side after the initial incident. However, the issue resurfaced only a couple of overs later.
The second breach occurred when Nigam nudged the ball toward short third and attempted a quick single before being sent back by non-striker Suryansh Shedge. In his effort to return safely to the crease, he ran through the protected area once again. Since the batting side had already been cautioned, the umpires enforced the prescribed penalty.
Two separate five-run penalties were awarded during the innings, resulting in Sri Lanka A effectively beginning their chase with 10 runs already on the board. The decision highlighted the importance of players adhering to pitch-protection regulations, especially after official warnings have been issued.
Interestingly, the match also saw Sri Lanka A concede five penalty runs earlier in India A’s innings. Wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella failed to stop a wide delivery cleanly, and the ball deflected into a helmet placed behind him, automatically awarding India A five bonus runs under the playing conditions.
Suryansh Shedge and Vipraj Nigam rescue India A with vital partnership
Despite the penalty drama, India A found positives through the impressive lower-order resistance shown by Suryansh Shedge and Vipraj Nigam. The pair arrived at the crease when the innings was in serious trouble, with India A struggling at 143 for 7 and in danger of being dismissed for a below-par total.
Instead of retreating under pressure, the duo launched a determined counterattack. Their 104-run partnership for the eighth wicket steadied the innings and shifted momentum back in India A’s favour. Nigam contributed a valuable 51 from 49 deliveries before being run out, while Shedge anchored the recovery with a composed and aggressive 72 off just 66 balls.
Their efforts lifted India A to 265, giving the bowlers a fighting total to defend despite the unusual setback of the 10-run penalty. Although the infringements proved costly, the resilience shown by the lower order ensured the visitors remained firmly in the contest and demonstrated the depth available in the India A lineup.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
