Galli: Openers Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani and Sagar Virk scored cautious centuries on the final day of the first unofficial Test at the Galli International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
At the end of play on the third day, the visitors were 378/3, with Raichandani and Kush Patel unbeaten on a 46-run margin over Sri Lanka U19.
A pulsating final day began with India U19 resuming their first innings at 186/0 with openers Raisandhani and Virk in reply to Sri Lanka U19’s 424/9 declared.
Raichandani and Virk continued their dominance over the home side’s bowlers on the final day as they extended their opening partnership to 295 runs.
Lathendra Akash gave the Sri Lanka U19 team a much-needed breakthrough by dismissing Virk, who departed after scoring 134 runs off 312 balls with the help of 15 fours and a six.
Raichandani then joined Kushagra Ojha (24) in the middle and the duo managed to put on 42 runs for the second wicket before being sent back by Dulnith Chigera.
India U19 suffered another setback as skipper Yashpardhan Chauhan fell to Dimat Abeysinghe after scoring just 6 off 23 balls, reducing the total to 360/3.
However, Raichandani stood firm and put on an unbeaten 18 with Patel to ensure India U19 ended the day without further damage.
At the end of the third day, the opener was within touching distance of a double century as he remained unbeaten on 196 runs, faced 306 balls and hit 24 fours, including 3 sixes, while Patel remained unbeaten on 3 runs.
For the home side, Abeysinghe, Chikera and Akash have so far taken one wicket each in the first innings.