Published: Sep 02, 2018, 02:49 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 02, 2018, 02:49 PM (IST)
An unbeaten century to Usman Khawaja has revived Australia A after they lost four wickets for 12 runs, in partnership with Marnus Labuschagne against India A on day one of the first unofficial Test in Bengaluru.
Khawaja, hoping to use this tour of India to succeed when Australia tour the UAE in October for two Tests against Pakistan, has batted from the time Mitchell Marsh opted to bat. With Test hopeful Kurtis Patterson (31) he put on 78 in 25.2 overs before pace bowler Mohammed Siraj triggered a dramatic collapse with four wickets in one spell, including those of Test players Peter Hanscomb and Marsh for ducks.
Once Siraj bowled Patterson, had Travis Head caught behind for 4 and then removed both Hanscomb and Marsh lbw without scoring.
Khawaja, using all his Test experience, buckled down and ground his way to a century in the company of Labuschagne (53*), taking Australia A to 191/4 by tea.
The four-day matches are being viewed as a selection trial for Australia’s Test tour of the UAE to play Pakistan in October, and with the squad to be named after the tour, there are several Test aspirants hoping to impress the selectors.
