Philippe struck eight fours during his run-a-ball knock.
| Photo Credit: CAP
Rajat Patidar’s solo fight went in vain again as India-A lost the second one-dayer to Australia-A by 69 runs at the Cricket Association Pondicherry Siechem Ground on Friday.
The Madhya Pradesh batter (67, 82b, 3×4, 1×6) held firm through the middle overs to keep the host in contention in the chase of 276, but once he fell, the challenge withered away. India-A was eventually bowled out for 206, handing Australia-A an unassailable 2-0 lead.
After choosing to bat in the morning, the away team’s brisk start through Mitchell Owen was cut short by a smart slower ball from Yash Thakur. Sam Konstas and Josh Philippe manipulated the field placements to pick up boundaries fairly regularly in a 101-run second-wicket partnership. But, the older ball proved difficult to score off, and Australia-A folded for 275 off the penultimate delivery.
If brute pace dismissed the India-A openers in the first one-dayer, the lack of it proved fatal this time round. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad treated the fans, who braved the sun to fill the stands, to three sumptuous cover drives before a diving catch at deep backward point brought his innings to a sudden halt.
With three batters back in the hut in the first PowerPlay, it was left to Patidar to stitch crucial partnerships. But he mistimed a pull shot off left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson (three for 35) straight to deep square leg and there ended India-A’s hopes.
The scores: Australia-A 275 in 49.5 overs (Sam Konstas 67, Josh Philippe 58) bt India-A 206 in 45.2 overs (Rajat Patidar 67). Toss: Australia-A. PoM: Johnson.
Published – October 09, 2026 06:18 pm IST
