Chennai, July 31:
With their backs to the wall after conceding a big first innings lead, India A top-order faltered once again to reach 267 for six at the end of third day’s play against Australia A in the second unofficial ‘Test’ here today.
Getting behind a 214-run lead, the India A top-order failed to convert starts into big scores as opener Abhinav Mukund (59), Shreyas Iyer (49) and Virat Kohli (45) were a few notable performers in the second innings of the four-day game at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
The hosts lead by 51 runs in the second innings with a day’s play left in the four-day encounter.
Earlier the visitor’s added 20 more runs to their overnight score of 329 for nine before left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha (4-107) completed the formalities.
India A though have fared better than their first outing when they were hot out for 135 runs.
Skipper Cheteshwar Pujara (11) failed to inspire the India A batting after running himself out early, while Kohli worked hard in his 94-ball stay before being cleaned up by a Steve O’Keefe (3-83) turner.
Pujara was to be blamed for his late start from the bowling end while Mukund, who made the call for a run swiftly made ground at the other end.
Karun Nair (31) also departed soon after, scalped by pace spearhead Gurinder Sandhu (1-74) as the Usman Khawaja-led side reduced the hosts to 134 for three.
Mukund and Iyer then stitched a 70-run fourth-wicket partnership to stage some sort of a recovery but Ashton Agar (1-71) broke the crucial stand after plotting the left-handed opener’s fall. Iyer followed soon after when O’Keefe got him cleaned up in the very next over.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha (30) then tried to play the rescue act with Baba Aparajith (28 not out) with a 47-run sixth-wicket stand but O’Keefe once again broke through.
Ojha struck a six and three fours in his 44-ball stay before giving a leading edge to Khawaja at slip.
Aparajith and Shreyas Gopal (0 not out) are hanging on as the hosts face a tough final day against a side hungry for a win after a draw in the first game. (PTI)
SCOREBOARD
India A 1st innings: 135
Australia A 1st innings (overnight 329 for nine)
Cameroon Bancroft c Kohli b Aparajith 150
Usman Khajawa lbw P Ojha 33
Joe Burns c Mukund b P Ojha 8
Peter Handscomb c Kohli b P Ojha 0
Callum Ferguson c Nair b Gopal 54
Marcus Stoinis st N Ojha b Aparajith 10
Matthew Wade b Aparajith 11
Stephen O’Keefe not out 6
Gurinder Sandhu st N Ojha b Aparajith 36
Ashton Agar b Aparajith 6
Andrew Fekete c Kohli b PP Ojha 10
Extras: (B-1, LB-8, W-1, NB-5) 15
Total: (all out; 107.5 overs) 349
Bowling: Shardul Thakur 11-2-37-0, Varun Aaron 15-5-41-0, Pragyan Ojha 34.5-2-107-4, Baba Aparajith 25-5-86-5, Shreyas Gopal 22-2-69-1
India A 2nd innings
Abhinav Mukund c Cameroon Bancroft 59
Cheteshwar Pujara Run Out 11
Virat Kohli b Stephen O’Keefe 45
Karun Nair c Usman Khawaja b Gurinder Sandhu 31
Shreyas Iyer B Stephen O’Keefe 49
Naman Ojha c Usman Khawaja b Stephen O’Keefe 30
Baba Aparajith not out 28
Shreyas Gopal not out 0
Extras (b 7, lb 3, w 1, nb 2) 14
Total (6 wickets; 83 overs) 267
Bowling: Gurinder Sandhu 18-1-74-1, Andrew Fekete 10-4-14-0, Marcus Stoinis 11-5-14-0, Steve O’Keefe 28-7-83-3, Ashton Agar 16-0-71-1.
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