India A vs Australia A: Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal rebuild innings with unbeaten fifties
Rising youngsters Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal struck fighting fifties after Mukesh Kumar’s searing six-wicket haul to put India A in command with a 120-run lead against Australia A on Day 2 of their first four-day game.
Mukesh stole the show, claiming 6/46 to help India A restrict Australia A to 195 in their first innings but despite the Bengal seamer’s heroic efforts, the hosts secured a crucial 88-run lead. The visitors had scored 107 in their first essay.
India A once again suffered a jittery start in their second innings with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (5) and fellow opener Abhimanyu Easwaran (12) getting out cheaply to have India down to 30/2 in 8.5 overs.
But Sudharsan and Padikkal showed fine temperament and soaked the pressure on the bouncy pitch to produce an unbroken 178-run stand for the third wicket and help India seize control. Sudharsan hit nine boundaries in his 185-ball 96, while Padikkal was unbeaten on 80 from 167 balls, scoring five fours. — PTI
Brief scores: India A: 107 & 208/2 in 64 overs (Sudharsan 96*, Padikkal 80*); Australia A: 195 (McSweeney 39; Mukesh 6/46, Krishna 3/59)
No practice game before Border-Gavaskar Trophy
New Delhi: India have decided to cancel a planned three-day intra-squad match with the ‘A’ side during the upcoming Test tour of Australia as the team management wants to focus on additional net practice to prepare for the marquee five-match showdown starting November 22 in Perth. India were scheduled to begin their tour of Australia with a closed-door warm-up match against the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India A in Perth on November 15-17. However, it has been learnt that head coach Gautam Gambhir and some senior players want more time in the nets instead. Rohit Sharma and his men head to Australia after a shocking home series loss to New Zealand. Vying for a third straight Test series victory in Australia, the tourists will face added pressure as a place in the World Test Championship final is also at stake. — PTI
