India A’s first-innings batting collapse came back to haunt them as Australia A nosed ahead of the visitors after being set a target of 225 on the third day of the first ‘Unofficial Test’ at Mackay in Australia on Saturday. The home team was 139 for three at stumps, needing another 86 runs for victory as the Indian bowlers could not get enough wickets to put pressure on the Australians in their second essay. Skipper Nathan McSweeney and Beau Webster were batting on 47 and 19, respectively, at the close of play.
McSweeney, one of the top contenders to bag the vacant opener’s slot in the Australian team for the marquee Test series against India, forged an unbroken partnership of 54 runs for the fourth wicket along with Webster after Australia A slipped to 85 for three.
India were all out for 312 in their second innings, a far better batting display than their forgettable outing on the first day, when they crumbled for 107.
Resuming the day on 96, Sai Sudharsan (103) duly completed his century but Devdutt Padikkal fell for 88, adding only eight runs to his overnight total of 80 after having stitched a partnership of 196 runs for the third wicket with the former.
India started the day on 208 for two.
The Australian bowlers, led by pacer Fergus O’Neill (4/55) and off-spinner Todd Murphy (3/77), fought back by taking the two big wickets in quick succession and after that, the visiting batters did not show enough application to stretch their lead.
Sudharsan was the first to go, after attempting an expansive cover drive off the bowling of Murphy.
Padikkal was trapped in front of the wicket by Murphy 13 balls later after the batter went on the backfoot to tackle the off-spinner.
Flamboyant keeper-batter Ishan Kishan walked into the middle and he looked in the mood as he played some impressive shots, including pulling O’Neill for a six.
However, Ishan got out soon, caught at second slip by Cameron Bancroft off the bowling of O’Neill. Ishan made 32 off 58 balls during his stay in the middle in which he was dropped when on 21.
Nitish Kumar Reddy (17) also got a reprieve but he threw away his wicket by driving a low full toss by Beau Webster back to the bowler as India A stretched their lead to 199 runs.
Fast bowler Navdeep Saini chipped in 18 runs as India A’s lead went past 220.
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