×

Day 3 Report, 2nd unofficial Test: India A thwart Australia A’s path to early victory

India A are trailing by 108 runs at stumps on Day Three of 2nd unofficial Test at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Saturday.

Akhil Herwadkar remained unbeaten at 82 on Day Three of 2nd Test © Getty Images
Akhil Herwadkar remained unbeaten at 82 on Day Three of 2nd Test © Getty Images

Excellent comeback from India A’s Akhil Herwadkar and Sanju Samson, thwarted Australia A’s path to victory on Day Three of the second four-day unofficial Test at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. India A ended their day at 158 for 4 with a strong fifth wicket partnership of 58 off 144 deliveries. India A now trail by 108 runs. Akhil Herwadkar was the star of the innings and will resume playing at 82 on Day Four and Samson unbeaten at 34. Australia A were bowled out for 435 with Hilton Cratwright as the highest scorer for his side adding 117 runs. The match was moving in the right direction with Herwadkar and Faiz Fazal ending with 62 runs at Tea and in the second session added few more runs to build partnership of 84 runs.

Jon Holland struck and shook the top-order as the visitors limped to 100 for 4 after Tea. Australia A could have very well wrapped the innings within three days, but with sloppy fielding and plus heavy rains predicted, the game was very much favouring Australia A. But Herwadkar and Samson’s innings brought the best for India A and kept them in positive position. Both looked compact and played numerous fluent strokes, particularly on front foot. The youngsters showed the type of learning they have received under the guidance of their coach Rahul Dravid. They were calm and composed through the time after Tea. With India A losing constant wickets, Herwadkar faced some problems early in the innings as wickets kept tumbling, however, Samson came along and balanced the batting unit along with Herwadkar.

Herwadkar has been lucky twice, he was once dropped Nic Maddinson at first slip and shortly Holland split a simple return to reprieve Fazal. Herwadkar’s boldness nearly proved his undoing when he smashed Holland to long-on and was caught by Chadd Sayers on the boundary but the paceman’s foot touched the rope, gifting the opener his half-century. Herwadkar’s innings continued when Jackson Bird dropped a sharp chance at leg-slip but wickets kept falling. A misunderstanding between Fazal and Herwadkar, saw run-out of Fazal from Travis Dean. Holland played crucial role for Australia A as he picked important wickets. ALSO READ: Tea Report, 2nd unofficial Test: IND A reach 62/0 against AUS A

Karun Nair, Manish Pandey and Naman Ojha were gone in quick succession. Pandey, who has struggled to get runs, tried to get some runs with a six as well. But Holland soon took revenge with Pandey smashing it straight to Beau Webster, followed by Ojha who shortly fell to slip in first ball. It completed a miserable series for Ojha who scored just 20 runs in four innings. Earlier, Cartwright had to wait for few minutes to reach his milestone of century on his debut match. Due to mix-up of ball, his century was kept on hold. India A looked lethargic on the field as Cartwright and wicket-keeper Sam Whiteman were doing their bit to take Australia A to the total of 435 and put up commanding sixth-wicket partnership of 76.

There were heavy rains predicted on the final day that could have turned the match around for Australia A. Looking at the way the game was progressing, skipper Joe Burns decided not to call off the match and Australia A kept grinding away, continuing to play orthodox shots. Cartwright innings came to an end when he tiredly nicked Shardul Thakur and was caught behind ending his 193-ball vigil. Thakur hada fine innings as he ended his day with figures of 5 for 101 and also picked the wickets of Chadd Sayers and claimed to be the most impressive bowler for India A in the series. ALSO READ: Cartwright, Maddinson put AUS A in firm control vs IND A

Whiteman, continued the dream run and came up big strokes and kept the scoreboard ticking, ensuring the lead built by Australia A proves to provide misery for India A further. The left-hand batsman scored his fifty but departed soon with Nair taking comfortable catch. It was a rare highlight for India A during a disappointing match after a highly competitive effort in the series opener. Victory is not far sighted for India and they still have chances to win and level the series. However, it all falls down to Herwadkar and Samson at the end of the innings.

On Day 2, Australia A showed fine display of batting. A 99 not out from Cartwright, took the hosts to a 150-run lead in their bags, and the first innings score reading 319 for 5. The highlight of the day was an important 152-run stand for the fifth wicket between Cartwright and Beau Webster. But that was after Nic Maddinson had scored an entertaining 81-run knock, including 12 fours and 2 sixes. While India A began the day with their overnight score of score 169-9, they could not add any runs to that score, as Hardik Pandya became Kane Richardson’s fourth victim, after being dismissed four balls into proceedings on Day Two.

Brief Scores:

Australia A 435 (Nic Maddinson 81, Beau Webster 79, Hilton Cartwright 117, Sam Whiteman 51; Shardul Thakur 5 for 101, Jayant Yadav 3 for 95) trail India A 169 (Jayant Yadav 28, Hardik Pandya 79; Kane Richardson 4 for 37, Jackson Bird 3 for 53) & 158 for 4 (Akhil Herwadkar 82*, Faiz Fazal 28, Sanju Samson 34*; Jon Holland 3 for 59) by 108 runs

trending this week