IND-A vs AUS-A ‘Test’ | Kushagra gets his ton before Mulani runs through Australia-A

Shams Mulani picked up four wickets as Australia-A slumped on either side of a Jason Sangha counterattack and folded for 171, a massive 163 short of India-A’s 334, on the second day of the first ‘Test’ at the Siechem Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday.

Sangha produced a 64-ball 46 (5×4, 1×6) after walking in at 37 for three, and a late recovery appeared to be the theme for the second day in a row. He began with consecutive sweep shots off Mulani (four for 67) after tea before riding the bounce against Tushar Deshpande and punching the pacer through point twice.

Liam Scott took a leaf out of this playbook and ransacked 14 runs off Tanush Kotian in three deliveries. However, Scott was no match for Mulani, who floated a delivery full, got it to turn and had Scott caught behind. Two overs later, Sangha threw his wicket away in an attempt to clear the point fielder with a reverse sweep.

The spinners took the honours in the final session, but it was because of the quicks that Australia-A was behind the eight ball. Its top and middle orders, which boasted of five capped players, unravelled against lateral movement.

Sam Konstas was far from the hot-headed opening renegade, who had caught India by surprise during the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He put a price on his wicket and negotiated the early period. But Deshpande’s delivery nipped in sharply and pinned him in front on 25.

Earlier, Kumar Kushagra (113, 240b, 12×4) checked his instinct and took up almost an hour to complete his seventh First Class ton off 202 balls.

Kushagra showed no intent of changing gears after his century, but would be ruing the approach. On a rapidly deteriorating pitch, his end was inevitable and it came when a Corey Rocchiccioli (four for 95) delivery pitched outside the off-stump line, spun and crashed into his leg stump.

The scores: India-A 334 in 117.3 overs (Sai Sudharsan 57, Kumar Kushagra 113, Tanush Kotian 69, Corey Rocchiccioli 4/95) vs. Australia-A 171 in 55.3 overs (Jason Sangha 46, Shams Mulani 4/67).