India-A claimed a couple of wickets on the third evening.
| Photo Credit: X@CAP
Devdutt Padikkal (59, 88b, 7×4) and Kumar Kushagra (46 n.o., 59b, 4×4, 2×6) did the heavy lifting on a treacherous third-day wicket, leaving India-A holding all the cards against Australia-A in the first ‘Test’ at the Siechem Cricket Stadium here on Thursday.
Their effort ensured Australia-A was chasing an improbable 363-run target. Nathan McSweeney (23 batting) dropped anchor in the final session as the visitor finished on 55 for two, but is unlikely to get the remaining 308 runs on the final day.
Padikkal joined B. Sai Sudharsan (39, 85b, 3×4) in the seventh over of the innings, and their 68-run partnership for the second wicket was the highest association through the entire day. A major part of Sai Sudharsan’s stay was about surviving the perilously uneven bounce enjoyed by the tweakers. Padikkal learnt from his mistake in the first innings and played with soft hands, thus surviving countless edges and half-chances.
In the 35th over, Rocchiccioli extracted his edge off consecutive deliveries, only for the first one to not carry to second slip and the second one to dissect the two cordon fielders.
But irony would not have been lost on Sai Sudharsan after he smothered every misbehaving delivery that jumped off the surface but was trapped in front while attempting a sweep off an over-pitched delivery from Todd Murphy.
A change in approach was Padikkal’s undoing. He attempted an on-sided heave off Liam Scott, missed it and was rapped on the pads.
Barring a nip-backer from Scott that took his inside edge and raced away to the fence, Kushagra had a hold over proceedings and missed out on a fifty only because he ran out of partners. India-A lost its final six wickets for just 48 runs.
Sam Konstas and McSweeney putting up 47 runs for the second wicket must have lifted spirits in the visiting camp.
But as Konstas (20) perished on a botched up sweep shot, plumb in front off Tanush Kotian, minutes before close of play, Australia-A was left feeling the heat again.
The scores: India-A 334 & 199 in 57.4 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 59, Kumar Kushagra 46 n.o., Todd Murphy 4/48) vs. Australia-A 171 & 55/2 in 23 overs.
Published – September 24, 2026 07:11 pm IST
