Australia A reached 350-9 on the opening day of the second unofficial Test in Lucknow, despite a five-wicket haul from left-arm spinner Manav Suthar.
The former India Under-19 bowler, who played one Youth ODI in 2019, returned figures of 5 for 93 from 28 overs, keeping the hosts in the contest after the visitors made promising starts across their batting order.
India A, having won the toss and elected to bowl, struck in the fourth over when Prasidh Krishna dismissed Campbell Kellaway for nine. Sam Konstas and skipper Nathan McSweeney, both of whom are fighting for a place in the Ashes squad, then added 86 for the second wicket, before the former was removed by Mohammed Siraj on 49. Captain McSweeney anchored the innings with a patient 74 off 162 deliveries, striking ten boundaries, but fell with the score at 202-5 as India A wrestled control of the game.
2nd unofficial Test, India A vs Australia A
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Manav Suthar makes inroads in the middle order
Suthar, who dismissed Oliver Peake and Cooper Connolly in successive overs, then removed Josh Philippe (39) who had struck a rapid century in the first Test last week. The keeper made a 33-ball 39 and was the sixth wicket to fall with the scorecard reading 214, but resistance from the lower-order batters took them well past the 300-run mark. Jack Edwards (88) stood tall, while Will Sutherland (10) and Todd Murphy (29*) made vital contributions. At the end of the day’s play, Murphy was batting alongside Henry Thornton, who was on 10 off 10 deliveries.
Suthar, a left-arm spinner, dismissed Sutherland and Corey Rocchiccioli in the space of four balls in the last session to complete his fifth first-class five-for. He also reached 100 wickets in red-ball cricket in the process, in 24 games.
The first Test between the two teams ended in a draw. They will also play three ODIs following the second Test, from September 30.
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