By Dwayne Ferreira.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s record 11-ball fifty powered India A to a 66-run win over Sri Lanka A in the 2026 Tri-Nation Series final in Dambulla.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a record-breaking assault before India A completed a 66-run victory over Sri Lanka A in the 2026 Tri-Nation A Series final at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on June 21. India A posted 377 for nine from 50 overs and dismissed the hosts for 311 in 47.1 overs, turning an explosive opening partnership into the tournament title.
Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige won the toss and chose to bowl, but the decision immediately exposed his attack to Sooryavanshi at his most destructive. The 15-year-old left-hander attacked from the opening overs and raced to his half-century from only 11 deliveries, setting a new record for the fastest fifty in List A cricket.
Sooryavanshi combined power with a wide scoring range, striking 10 fours and eight sixes during a remarkable 94 from 29 balls. He and Priyansh Arya added 132 for the first wicket from only 53 deliveries, carrying India A to 140 during the opening 10-over powerplay.
Arachchige finally ended the innings in the ninth over when Sooryavanshi was caught by Vijayakanth Viyaskanth. Arya followed for 39 in the next over, giving Sri Lanka A a chance to slow the scoring after India A had reached 136 for two.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and captain Tilak Varma responded by adding 84 for the third wicket. Gaikwad made 40 from 51 balls, while Tilak accepted the responsibility of batting through the middle overs as Sri Lanka A’s spinners restored some control.
Tilak finished with 67 from 90 deliveries, including four fours and a six. Kumar Kushagra contributed 36 from 39 balls, but India A lost regular wickets after reaching 283 for three and were 334 for eight during the 48th over.
Anukul Roy then delivered the final acceleration. The left-hander struck four sixes in a 15-ball 39, adding 43 from 16 deliveries with Yash Thakur and taking India A to 377 for nine. Wanuja Sahan and Ravindu Fernando returned two wickets each, while Viyaskanth conceded only 36 runs from eight wicketless overs in an otherwise expensive Sri Lankan effort.
Sri Lanka A required 378 at 7.56 runs per over and attempted to keep pace during the powerplay, reaching 75 for three. Yash Thakur removed Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella and Nuwanidu Fernando, preventing the hosts from establishing the sustained opening partnership such a chase demanded.
Sadeera Samarawickrama counterattacked with nine fours in a 44-ball 52 and added 53 for the fourth wicket with Arachchige. Ashok Sharma dismissed Samarawickrama at 128 for four before Vipraj Nigam removed Ravindu Fernando for 19.
Arachchige made 38 from 40 balls, but Tilak dismissed his opposite number with Sri Lanka A still needing 201 runs. At 177 for six after 25.1 overs, the chase had become dependent on an exceptional lower-order recovery.
Wanuja and Viyaskanth provided spirited resistance through a 77-run seventh-wicket partnership. Viyaskanth struck five fours in his 39 from 34 balls, while Wanuja top-scored with 62 from 69 deliveries.
Anukul broke the partnership by dismissing Viyaskanth, and Nigam removed Wanuja at 284 for eight. Mohamed Shiraz made 21 and Dulaj Samuditha struck two sixes in a brief 15, helping Sri Lanka A cross 300 before Nigam completed the match when Shiraz was caught by Anukul with 17 balls unused.
Thakur finished with three for 45 and Nigam claimed three for 60, while Anukul followed his late batting contribution with two for 42. Sooryavanshi was named Player of the Match for an innings that effectively placed India A in control inside the opening 10 overs.
After a tournament in which India A had lost a league match to Sri Lanka A in a Super Over, the final supplied a decisive reversal. Tilak’s side lifted the tri-series trophy and will remain in Sri Lanka for the two-match four-day series, beginning against Sri Lanka A in Galle on June 25.
MATCH SUMMARY
INDIA A – 377/9, 50 overs
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 94, Tilak Varma 67, Ruturaj Gaikwad 40
Wanuja Sahan 2/39, Ravindu Fernando 2/72, Kugathas Mathulan 2/82
SRI LANKA A – 311 all out, 47.1 overs
Wanuja Sahan 62, Sadeera Samarawickrama 52, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 39
Yash Thakur 3/45, Vipraj Nigam 3/60, Anukul Roy 2/42
Result: India A won by 66 runs.
Player of the Match: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
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