Nishan Madushka dazzles after Ayosh Badoni special

The run fest at the NCC continued as Nishan Madushka hit a blistering century following Ayush Badoni‘s marathon knock of 185* on day 3 of the 1st unofficial Test between the Sri Lanka U19s and the India U19s. 

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The visitors resumed day three on 473/5 and made their intentions clear as Badoni who was unbeaten on a century overnight, used the long handle to good effect. His partner Nehan Wadhera was unfortunate to miss out on a century being dismissed for 82, but the flamboyant right hander continued on his merry way to take India past the 500 run mark. Badoni who captured four scalps with his off-spinners in the Sri Lanka U19 first innings, went past his 150 in a flourish as the Indian lead continued to grow.

Harsh Tyagi and Mohit Jangra made useful contributions low down the order to give Badoni good company, as India inched towards the 600-run mark and Badoni within touching distance of a double century. They fell short of both landmarks as Akash Pandey got a golden duck to leave Badoni stranded on an unbeaten 185 as India were bowled out for 589.

Right arm off break bowler Kalhara Senaratne bowled as many as 38.5 overs, picking up 6/170 for the hosts, while Thomian Kalana Perera bowled decently to pick up 2/107 as the Sri Lankan bowlers toiled for almost 135 overs with India securing a 345 run lead.

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With the hosts only option being to save the game, Nishan Madushka went by the theory of ‘attack being the best form of fence’. He was brilliant to watch as he took the attack to the Indian bowlers, sending the ball to all corners of NCC.

His opening partner Kamil Mishara fell for a subdued 13, before he stringed a partnership of 91 runs for the second wicket with skipper Nipun Dananjaya, who played a similar role to Mishara.

Madushka had soon moved on to 88 when he decided to launch left arm quick Jangra downtown not just once but twice, as he got to his century with consecutive sixes in the same over. In fact there was more action to come in the Jangra over. Madushka controlled an edge to the third man boundary to make it 16 runs off five deliveries, but Jangra had the last laugh eventually. A lapse of concentration from Madushka saw him throw his bat to a delivery outside the off-stump only to edge it to the safe hands of Devdutt Padikkal in the slips, provoking wild celebrations from Jangra who was taken to the cleaners earlier in the over.

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Jangra was in the middle of a dream spell. He soon accounted for the scalp of skipper Dananjaya for 20 as Sri Lanka were reduced to 142/3, still 203 runs behind with Jangra picking up all three wickets to fall.

Nuwanidu Fernando (19*) and Pasindu Sooriyabandara (20*) made sure no further damage was done as Sri Lanka ended the day on 177/3, still needing a further 168 runs to avoid an innings defeat.