India A ended the second day of the first unofficial Test on 116-1, still trailing Australia A by 416 runs.
Australia A pile on quick runs in morning session
Resuming on 337-5, Australia A scored quick runs in the first session of the second day at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Liam Scott, Josh Phiippe and Xavier Bartlett were the three batters to bat on Wednesday (September 17), and they came equipped with the responsibility of scoring quick runs in a match that was always expected to be affected by the weather.
Australia A made 195 runs in only 25 overs in the extended morning session that began at 9 am to make up for the overs lost due to rain on the first day, before declaring on 532-6 after 98 overs. Philippe was dropped on 26 by N Jagadeesan off Khaleel Ahmed and went on to score an unbeaten 123 from 87 balls, hitting 18 fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 141.38. His fifty came in 55 deliveries, and he needed only 25 more balls to register his fifth first-class ton.
1st unofficial Test, India A vs Australia A
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He first added 81 runs for the sixth wicket with Scott, who struck 81 off 122 balls with the help of ten boundaries, including two sixes. Scott was eventually dismissed by Gurnoor Brar, who had also dismissed opener Campbell Kellaway yesterday, but Philippe found another aggressive partner in No.8 Bartlett. Together they shared an unbroken 118-run stand in just 10.2 overs. Bartlett contributed with a quick 39 not out off 24 balls, with five fours and two sixes, before they declared.
Harsh Dubey picked up three wickets in the innings, while Brar finished with two. Khaleel Ahmed was the only other wicket-taker, finishing with 1-80 in 15 overs.
India A’s reply cut short by rain
In response, India A openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Jagadeesan started steadily, putting on 88 runs for the first wicket in 21.1 overs. Easwaran scored 44 off 58 before he was bowled by Scott, while Jagadeesan brought up his 16th first-class fifty. Heavy thunderstorms, however, prevented any further action after tea, bringing an early end to the day that just seen 55 overs being bowled.
At stumps, Jagadeesan was batting on 50 alongside Sai Sudharsan, who was on 20 off 27.
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