Auqib Nabi takes 4 wickets in unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A to send strong message to selectors | Cricket News

Auqib Nabi’s four-wicket spell with the second new ball helped India A take control of the match in the first unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A on day three, giving the visitors a 170-run total lead.Sri Lanka A started the day at 113 for 2 and looked in good form, finishing with 300 for 5 before Nabi changed the game with the second new ball. Jammu and Kashmir seamers took four wickets as Sri Lanka A were bowled out for 330 runs.Nabi finished with 4 for 58 in 19.4 overs. His performance helped India post a 122-run lead at 452 for 6 in the first innings.India A extended their lead to 170 runs through stumps and reached an unbeaten 48 in the second innings. Centurion Sai Sudharsan retired injured after scoring 4 points in the first game of the opener. Ayush Pandey and Devdutt Padikkal ended the match with an unbeaten 20 each.On the fourth and final day, India A will likely bat till lunch and try to set a target of around 300 before giving their bowlers two sessions to defeat Sri Lanka A.Earlier in the day, Ashen Bandara scored 70 off 162 balls while captain Sahan Arachchige scored 72 off 129 balls. The duo shared 117 runs for the third wicket and both looked comfortable with pace and spin. Sri Lanka A were at 260 for 3 at one point and looked to be in a strong position.Arachchige attacked the spinners, hitting 3 sixes and 5 4s against Saransh Jain and Harsh Dubey. However, both bowlers dismissed the batsmen with Devdutt Padikkal picking up two catches.At 268 for 5, Anjala Bandara (15) and Ravindu Fernando (22) added 32 runs before India A captain Dhruv Jurel took the second New Kookaburra ball.Nabi immediately took advantage of this and dismissed both batsmen, who were caught by Padikkal and Pandey. Sri Lanka A then lost their last 5 wickets in 30 runs.Nabi completed his spell by trapping Chamika Gunasekara and Dulaj Samudhita in front of the stumps.