On the opening day (September 16) of the first unofficial Test in Lucknow, Ranji Trophy record-holder Harsh Dubey took three wickets to help India A claw back after Australia A had put up a huge opening stand.
Konstas, Kellaway make India A toil
Nathan McSweeney, captaining Australia A, elected to bat first after winning the toss. The visitors made the most of the decision, thanks to a massive 198-run stand between openers Sam Konstas and Campbell Kellaway, who took just 223 balls for the partnership.
Konstas made 101 off 126 deliveries in the partnership, including 10 fours and three sixes. The 19-year-old Australian opener would have breathed a sigh of relief, having entered the match with an average of just 8.33 in his last six Test innings. His 22-year-old opening partner, Kellaway, also looked set for a century but fell just 12 runs shy of the landmark when he was dismissed by Gurnoor Brar in the 38th over.
Harsh Dubey helps India A claw back
McSweeney perished just 13 balls into his innings, trapped lbw by Harsh Dubey for one run. Then Dubey ensured Konstas didn't add much to his score post his century, bowling him out for 109 off 144 balls.
No.4 batter Oliver Peake (2) was also part of the mini-collapse, pinned lbw by Khaleel Ahmed, who was part of the Essex county campaign a month ago before pulling out mid-season due to personal reasons.
Australia found themselves reduced from 198-0 to 224-4. Liam Scott (46) and Cooper Connolly (63) then dug in with a 109-run stand off 146 balls to arrest the slide. Connolly, who became the youngest Australian to take a men’s ODI five-for a month ago, was looking set to take Australia to stumps without further damage. That's when Dubey struck again, dismissing him for 70 off 84 balls. Australia finished day one at 337-5, with Scott unbeaten on 47.
1st unofficial Test, India A vs Australia A
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Dubey (3-88) ensured India's comeback on a day on which Australia dominated initially. He was the leading wicket-taker with 69 wickets at an average of 16.98 in Vidarbha’s title-winning Ranji Trophy season. No other bowler has taken as many wickets in a single season of the Ranji Trophy.
Dubey also played three matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025, taking five wickets at an average of 19.60 and an economy rate of 9.80, with best figures of 3-34.
