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).

D. Deepesh, just 18, has created a buzz with pace for Madurai Panthers in the TNPL this season.

The 2026 u-19 World Cup winner has repeatedly crossed 140 kph, even touching 146 kph. But he’s also been varying his speed, having worked on that with mentor Sandeep Warrier during the two-week gap after the TNCA First Division League.

“I got a good idea. That’s been helpful. We didn’t just work on speed alone. We worked on slower ones and yorkers, and bowling according to the situation. Speed is my natural ability,” Deepesh said after his team’s third successive win, against SKM Salem Spartans, at the NPR College Ground here on Monday.

“Ever since I started playing in the u-19 circuit, we have spoken a lot and have been working closely. He has been very helpful to me.

“In fact, I would say he’s the only person I’ve always spoken to about my bowling. Even this morning, I spoke with him. We discuss my bowling plan before almost every match,” Deepesh, who finished with three for 38 after conceding 45 in three overs against Vida Kovai Kings, said.

The spell followed a tidy one for 25 in the opening match against Trichy Grand Cholas. The youngster acknowledged the support he received after the initial setback.

“Even after I got hit, the team didn’t let me down. They were very encouraging. The bowling coach (assistant coach A.C. Prathiban) backed me a lot. We spoke about it. Pressure got to me in that situation. So today [Monday], I focused on bowling without letting the pressure get to me,” he said.

And he delivered on the promise, taking three for 18 in his last two overs after going for 20 runs in his first two.