Sangha's career best spins Aus A to final day victory

An inspired bowling performance by mid-match replacement Tanveer Sangha has spun Australia A to a 68-run win in the first of two four-day games against Sri Lanka A.

Leg-spinner Sangha was only parachuted into the match late on day two along with Jimmy Peirson after Matt Kuhnemann and Travis Head were called up to the senior side as injury cover for Marcus Stoinis and Ashton Agar.

The 20-year-old – whose impressive performances for Sydney Thunder and NSW quickly earned him a call-up to Australia's squad for T20 tours of New Zealand, the Caribbean and Bangladesh last year – claimed four of the last five wickets to fall as Sri Lanka collapsed after tea on the final day.

Set 318 to win on a wearing day four pitch after A skipper Marcus Harris declared Australia's second innings on 5-212 before play, the Sri Lankans were immediately on the back foot thanks to WA allrounder Aaron Hardie and South Australia quick Nathan McAndrew.

Hardie trapped opener Pabasara Waduge in front for two in the sixth over before McAndrew struck twice, removing skipper Kamindu Mendis (5) and Nuwanidu Fernando (3) to leave Sri Lanka A battling at 3-41.

Image Id: DBC84DC225E44223B955EDB5CED0A1E4 Image Caption: Aaron Hardie removed both Sri Lanka A openers // SLC

But a 107-run fourth wicket stand from Minod Bhanuka (87) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (105) saw the hosts fight their way back into the contest after lunch as they threatened to take the game down to the wire.

Hardie, who also rescued the tourists with a crucial half century on day one, tilted the match back in Australia's favour when he had Bhanuka edging behind to wicketkeeper Josh Philippe, who also set up Australia's victory with a counter-attacking 94 off 102 balls in the first innings.

The 23-year-old – one of five West Australian allrounders with the national squads in Sri Lanka – struck again two overs later when Lahiru Udara feathered a delivery down the leg-side to Philippe.

That was when Sangha joined the action, as Philippe claimed another catch when he clung onto a juggling attempt that found the edge of Suminda Lakshan's bat on 23.

Sangha (4-56) struck again in his next over, sliding a flatter delivery through the defences of Lakshitha Manasinghe before McAndrew (3-31) removed Nisala Tharaka for a duck five balls later.

Image Id: 3DD4FC30BD9A4D79A33370EFED2AFB19 Image Caption: Off-spinner Todd Murphy bowls on day four // SLC

With centurion Samarawickrama – who played four Test matches in 2017 – still at the crease there was always hope Sri Lanka A could pull off an unlikely victory, but the young leggie put an end to that when he had him spooning a simple chance to Nic Maddinson at wide mid-off.

The right-armer sealed the match – and the best figures of his five-game first-class career – when he claimed his fourth wicket of the innings as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 249.

It was a great double for McAndrew who finished with match figures of 4-69 to go with his career-best first-class score of 92 on day one that helped Australia post an imposing first innings total of 379.

The two sides meet again at Mahinda Rajapaksha Stadium in Hambantota for the second four-day match on Tuesday.

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, 2022

June 7: Australia won first T20 by 10 wickets

June 8: Australia won second T20 by three wickets

June 11: Sri Lanka won third T20 by four wickets

Sri Lanka ODI squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Niroshan Dickwella, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lahiru Madushanka, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan

Australia ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

June 14: Australia won by two wickets (DLS)

June 16: Sri Lanka won by 26 runs (DLS)

June 19: Third ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

June 21: Fourth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

June 24: Fifth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

Sri Lanka Test squad (provisional): Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Mohamed Shiraz, Shiran Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshitha Rasanjana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suminda Lakshan

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

June 29 - July 3: First Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

July 8-12: Second Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

All Sri Lanka v Australia international fixtures will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports

Australia A fixtures

Australia A squad: Scott Boland, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Todd Murphy, Jimmy Peirson, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Mark Steketee

Sri Lanka A one-day squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Udara, Lasith Croospulle, Oshada Fernando, Pabasara Waduge, Kamindu Mendis, Ashen Bandara, Janitha Liyanage, Sahan Arachchi, Pulina Tharanga, Dunith Wellalage, Dananjaya Lakshan, Shiran Fernando (will not play due to injury), Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Nishan Madushka, Ashen Daniel,Nisala Tharaka

June 8: Australia A won by seven wickets

June 10: Sri Lanka A won by four wickets

June 14-17: Australia A won by 68 runs

June 21-24: four-day match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota