Australia-A asserted control on the third day of the second ‘Test’ at the Siechem Cricket Stadium here on Thursday, leaving India-A with a predicament ahead of the final day.
At 28 for one at stumps, still 337 away from the target, with the looming threat from Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli, India-A has little choice except going after the target.
But attacking comes with its perils, as B. Sai Sudharsan found out, chopping on against Murphy on a short, wide delivery.
The visitor had tightened the noose in the morning session by bowling out India-A for 167, taking a massive 191-run lead.
Shaik Rasheed’s watchful vigil was eventually for nothing. Liam Hatcher generated reverse-swing to send a length delivery tailing in into his off-stump. Tanush Kotian also lost his off-stump, but to Rocchiccioli, who got one to turn square and run through his bat-pad. India-A lost its final five wickets for just 10 runs.
The pitch looked nowhere close to a minefield as Josh Philippe (26, 41b, 3×4) and Sam Konstas (40, 72b, 1×4) put on a 50-run partnership for the opening wicket.
India also had to replace the India-bound Anshul Kamboj, who left the camp after lunch, with Praful Hinge.
The opening pair could have scored more had Philippe not chased a risky single and ran himself out to a Tushar Deshpande direct-hit. Konstas ran hard between the wickets, but shuffled too far across to Kotian and saw his leg-stump broken.
Jason Sangha (44 n.o., 63b, 4×4, 1×6) had a reprieve against Kotian on zero as Devdutt Padikkal spilled an edge at first slip. He made the most of it, starting with a sweep on the first ball after his reprieve.
Sangha deposited Kotian into the sight-screen and was on the cusp of a fifty when Handscomb declared on 173 and threw the gauntlet at India-A.
The scores: Australia-A 358 & 173/4 decl. in 49 overs (Sam Konstas 40, Jason Sangha 44 n.o) vs India-A 167 in 68 overs (Shaik Rasheed 42) & 28/1 in 13 overs.
Published – October 01, 2026 08:58 pm IST
