Devdutt Padikkal marked his first match as India A captain with a composed half-century as India A strengthened their position against Australia A in the first unofficial Test in Puducherry on Thursday.
India A set Australia A a target of 363 after being bowled out for 199 in their second innings. At stumps on the third day, Australia A had reached 55 for 2 in 23 overs and still needed 308 runs for victory.
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Padikkal top-scored for India A with 59, while Kumar Kushagra continued his impressive run of form with an unbeaten 46 off 59 balls. Australia A’s Todd Murphy was the most successful bowler, finishing with four wickets for 48 runs.
The pitch at the Siechem Stadium became increasingly difficult to bat on as the day progressed, with uneven bounce creating problems for both sides. Some deliveries rose sharply from a good length, while others stayed unusually low.
India A had begun the day with a 163-run first-innings advantage after dismissing Australia A for 171 on the second evening. Instead of enforcing the follow-on, India A opted to bat again and build a sizeable target.
Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan put together a 68-run partnership for the second wicket. Sudharsan looked comfortable against the pace attack and played an impressive on-drive against Fergus O’Neill before being dismissed for 39 while attempting to sweep Todd Murphy.
Padikkal continued to anchor the innings and reached his half-century from 72 balls. He brought up the milestone with two successive boundaries off Liam Scott.
The India A captain attacked Murphy despite the spinner having dismissed him in the first innings. Padikkal used his feet effectively and struck the offspinner over mid-off during an aggressive passage of play.
His innings ended on 59 when Scott’s attempted short delivery stayed low and trapped him lbw. Scott also removed Yash Rathod, producing a delivery that moved late to hit the top of off stump.
Scott finished with figures of 2 for 22, while Murphy claimed four wickets. Brendan Doggett also took two wickets as Australia A kept India A under pressure.
Kushagra again showed his attacking ability and looked set for another significant score. He hit boundaries and sixes against both pace and spin before an awkward delivery from Doggett struck his glove and then his helmet. After receiving treatment, Kushagra continued batting but did not take the wicketkeeping gloves later in the day.
India A eventually declared their position by setting Australia A a challenging target of 363.
The visitors’ chase got off to a difficult start. Tushar Deshpande dismissed Campbell Kellaway for a duck after trapping the opener lbw with an inswinger.
Nathan McSweeney and Sam Konstas then added 47 runs for the second wicket before Tanush Kotian removed Konstas for 20. McSweeney remained unbeaten on 23 alongside Peter Handscomb at the close.
With cracks opening up and the bounce becoming increasingly unpredictable, India A’s spinners Kotian and Shams Mulani could prove important on the final day as Australia A attempt to chase down the target.
