India A were handed a rare 10-run penalty during their 50-over tri-series match against Sri Lanka A at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium on Monday, after batter Vipraj Nigam repeatedly ran through the protected area of the pitch despite being warned by on-field umpires.
Umpires Prageeth Rambukwella and Shantha Fonseka enforced the sanctions midway through the 34th and 37th overs.
The first infringement drew a warning. Two overs later, Nigam, attempting a single towards short third man, was sent back by non-striker Suryansh Shedge and in his scramble to regain ground, ran directly over the middle of the pitch. The repeat offence left umpires with no choice but to act. Two five-run penalties were imposed, meaning Sri Lanka A began their chase with 10 runs already on the board.
Sri Lanka A had earlier conceded five penalty runs themselves in the 16th over when wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella failed to collect a wide, the ball deflecting onto the helmet placed behind him.
Teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s wait for a maiden fifty for India A continued as the 15-year-old was dismissed for 21 off 14 balls, caught at point off Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige. Despite the early wobble and the penalty setback, Shedge and Nigam’s partnership ensured a competitive total was on the board for India A.
The incident is a costly reminder of one of cricket’s most avoidable infractions, a basic running discipline lapse that handed the opposition a head start before a single ball of their innings was bowled.
