Centuries from Jurel, Padikkal lead India A's response
India resumed the day on 403-4, still 129 runs behind Australia A's total of 532-6 declared. India's backup Test wicketkeeper, Dhruv Jurel, who had struck his second first-class hundred on the previous day, began strongly by hitting a four in his first over, reaching 117 not out. Batting at the other end was Devdutt Padikkal, who resumed unbeaten on 86. He reached his century off 198 balls – a rather contrasting approach to Jurel, who had taken only 114 balls to reach his landmark.
The pair extended their unbeaten 181-run partnership from the previous day, adding a further 47 runs. Australia A finally got the breakthrough in the 122nd over when Jurel was dismissed by Fergus O'Neill for a superb 140 off 197 balls, an innings laced with 13 fours and five sixes. Both of Jurel's first-class hundreds have been big scores; he converted his first into a double century – a score of 249 for Uttar Pradesh against Nagaland in the 2022–23 Ranji Trophy.
Padikkal continues to pile on big scores
The dismissal, however, didn't break Padikkal's concentration. The batter, who has played two Tests for India so far, reached 150 at the stroke of lunch. However, playing his 281st ball, he was dismissed immediately without adding to his score, with India A going to the break trailing by just 12 runs.
Padikkal has now converted four out of his seven first-class hundreds into a score of 150 or more, with his career-best being 178, made in a Ranji Trophy match between Karnataka and Puducherry in 2022.
In a match marred by rain delays, India A declared on 531-7, just one run shy of Australia A’s first-innings score. Batting in their second innings, the tourists reached 56-0 from 16 overs before the teams shook hands on a draw. Sam Konstas, fresh from his quick-fire century, remained unbeaten on 27, while his opening partner, Campbell Kellaway, finished on 24 not out.