AUS-A vs IND-A: Sudharsan, Padikkal and Mukesh star as India take 120-run lead

Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal’s 178-run stand ensured that India A would take the lead against Australia A in Mackay on November 1, Friday on Day 2 of the unofficial Test between both sides.

The visitors would end the day with a lead of 120 runs with the score at 208 for 2 at stumps. Sudharsan remained unbeaten on 96 while Padikkal gave him company with 80 runs to his name. The effort by the duo followed an impressive effort from Mukesh Kumar, who ensured that Australia A were bundled out for 195 runs. Mukesh ended up with figures of 46 for 6 in 18.5 overs to rattle the hosts and got support from Prasidh Krishna, who picked up 3 wickets. Nitish Kumar Reddy got one as well from his 7 overs. Australia A had started the day at 99 for 4 and would quickly overhaul India’s first innings score of 107 to take the lead.

Mukesh would provide the breakthrough as he dismissed Cooper Connolly for 37 runs. The Indian pacer would then dismiss Joshua Phillippe to put the hosts on the back foot with the score at 134 for 6. Nitish continued India’s pressure by getting the wicket of McSweeney.

Australia A got a partnership going with Fergus O’Neill and Todd Murphy putting on some lower order resistance before Prasidh ended the former’s stay at the crease. Mukesh would come in to clean up the tail and dismissed Murphy for 33 to close the Australia A innings at 195.

India’s shaky start as Ruturaj fails again
The start of the second innings for India was far from ideal as captain Ruturaj Gaikwad failed once again as he edged a ball from O’Neill straight to the slips to be dismissed for just 5 runs. Ruturaj was out for a duck in the first innings. India would then slip into trouble when Abhimanyu Easwaran got run-out with the score at 30 for 2.

Sudharsan and Padikkal would then come together to not just weather the storm but ensure India reached a strong position at stumps. Sudharsan’s 96 came in 185 balls and consisted of 9 boundaries while Padikkal got to 80 from 167 balls with 5 boundaries.