India A posted a competitive total of 319 for 9 against Afghanistan A in the fifth match of the Tri-Nation Series 2026 at Dambulla on Wednesday. After being put in to bat by Afghanistan A captain Imran Mir, the Indian side produced a strong batting performance with contributions from several players across the order. The total gives India A a solid platform as Afghanistan A began their run chase later in the contest.

India A's innings was anchored by a trio of half-centuries from Tilak Varma, Priyansh Arya, and Kumar Kushagra. Tilak scored 59 runs, providing stability in the middle order, while Arya contributed 58 at the top of the innings. Kushagra also registered 58 runs, ensuring that India A maintained momentum through the middle overs and kept the scoreboard moving at a healthy pace.

Young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has attracted attention for his potential, endured another disappointing outing. Despite receiving two chances during his innings, the left-hander was unable to convert his start into a major score and was dismissed for 38. His knock showed glimpses of promise, but he once again fell short of producing the significant innings many were hoping for in the tournament.

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The latter stages of the innings were boosted by an aggressive cameo from Vipraj Nigam, who scored 30 runs from just 20 deliveries. His quick scoring proved valuable as India A accelerated in the closing overs and crossed the 300-run mark. The lower-order contributions ensured that Afghanistan A faced a challenging target in the second innings.

Afghanistan A's bowling effort was led by Faridoon Dawoodzai, Abdullah Ahmadzai, and Farmanullah Safi, with each bowler claiming two wickets. While the bowling unit managed to take wickets at regular intervals, they were unable to completely halt India's scoring rate. Several partnerships throughout the innings allowed India A to recover from setbacks and build a formidable total.

Earlier in the day, Afghanistan A won the toss and elected to field first, hoping to take advantage of the conditions. However, India's balanced batting display helped the team post one of the stronger totals of the series. With 320 required for victory, Afghanistan A faced a demanding chase as both teams continued their push for a strong finish in the Tri-Nation Series 2026.

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