India Ameeting with Sri Lanka A The ongoing triangular series on Monday (June 15) saw not only a tough competition between bat and ball. While the visitors bounced back admirably from a difficult situation to post a competitive score of 265, an unusual sequence of events during their innings cost them 10 penalty runs. The ban was imposed due to repeated violations of the protected area of the pitch, which gave Sri Lanka A a good start in the chase and took an unexpected turn in the match.
Why did India A have to face a penalty of 10 runs?
All-rounder fined Vipraraj Nigam Twice ran into the protected area of the pitch despite prior warnings from field officials. Under the laws of cricket, batsmen are not allowed to run on the centrally protected strip except in limited circumstances, as doing so could damage the surface and affect the playing condition.
According to match officials, Nigam first committed the violation in the latter stages of India A’s innings. Umpires Prageeth Rambukwella and Shantha Fonseka warned the batting team after the initial incident. However, the issue resurfaced after a few overs.
The second violation occurred when Nigam pushed the ball towards short third and attempted a quick single before being sent back by non-striker Suryansh Shedge. In an attempt to return safely to the crease, he once again ran through the protected area. Since the batting team had been warned in advance, the umpires applied the prescribed penalty.
Two separate five-run penalties were awarded during the innings, resulting in Sri Lanka A effectively starting the chase with 10 runs already on the board. The decision highlighted the importance of players following pitch-safety rules, especially after official warnings were issued.
Interestingly, in the match, Sri Lanka A also gave the first five penalty runs to India A in the innings. Wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella failed to clear a wide delivery and the ball hit his helmet behind him, giving India A five bonus runs automatically in playing conditions.
Suryansh Shedge and Vipraj Nigam save India A with crucial 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 bowled out for less than their score.
Instead of backing down under pressure, both of them fought back resolutely. Their 104-run partnership for the eighth wicket propelled the innings and shifted the momentum back in favor of India A. Nigam made an important contribution of 51 runs in 49 balls before being run out, while Shej gave the team a comeback by playing a composed and aggressive innings of 72 runs in 66 balls.
His efforts took India A to 265, giving the bowlers a fightable total to defend despite the unusual blow of a 10-run penalty. Although the breach 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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