Why Tilak Verma-led India A were slapped with penalty of 10 runs against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla

In a unique incident in Dambulla, Sri Lanka A started their innings with a score of 10-0 without even a ball being bowled against India A in the ongoing tri-series on Monday, June 15.

India A batted first and were bowled out for 265 and when Sri Lanka A's batting began, the home team was already given a headstart of 10 runs. This happened because India A were slapped with a 10-run penalty while batting.

Vipraj Nigam's costly error

India A received two five-run penalties because their batters ran in the middle of the pitch despite being warned. The middle of the pitch is a protected area where neither the batting team nor the bowling side can walk or run on.

During the 35th over of the innings, leg-spinning all-rounder Vipraj Nigam was warned for running in the middle of the pitch. This led to a five-run penalty. The all-rounder did it again two overs later, leading to another penalty of five runs. The total penalty thus extended to 10 runs.

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Anulkul Roy was also given a warning in the same game for the same offence and that acted as the first warning for the team. From the second incident onwards, the penalty was slapped by the on-field umpires Prageeth Rambukwella and Shantha Fonseka.

This is the reason why Sri Lanka got a 10-run headstart at the start of their innings.

Vipraj, Shedge shine

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed 21 off just 14 to give India A a flying start but the team kept losing wickets at frequent intervals. Captain Tilak Varma and star batter Ruturaj Gaikwad both got starts but both of them failed to make it big. Varma scored 23 while Gaikwad contributed 37.

India A were reeling at 143 for 7 at one stage before Vipraj and all-rounder Suryansh Shedge combined to put up a solid partnership. Shedge smashed 72 off 66 balls while Nigam contributed 51 off 49 balls to rescue India from a tricky position.