110-run stand helps Australia A in India

Fellow spinner Amit Mishra picked up a three-wicket haul and found himself being picked to the national team again.

India “A” left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha struck thrice in quick succession but Australia “A” recovered from the setbacks to reach 185/4 at stumps on Day 2 of the first four-day cricket match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Thursday. Abhinav Mukund (40) and skipper Cheteshwar Pujara (42) missed out on fifties.

Placed comfortably at 185 for 4, courtesy the unbroken 110-run stand for the fifth wicket between Peter Handscomb and Marcus Stoinis, when play resumed, Australia A looked set to scale down India’s first-innings total of 301.

Earlier, India A were all out for 301 in their first innings after starting the day at overnight score of 221 for six.

India took the lead and it was mostly Pragyan Ojha’s brilliant bowling as he took five wickets by giving away 85 runs which helped in bowling out the visitors. Vijay Shankar finished 51 not out. On not being considered for the Sri Lanka tour, Ojha said: “Playing for the country is priority for any cricketer”.

Australia were on the back foot and Ojha, who had picked up three of the four wickets to fall on the second day, sent back Stoinis for 77, scored off 179 balls with ten fours and a six, and accounted for Sandhu the very next over to complete his five-for.

Opener Lokesh Rahul had got out to Travis Head after making a 45-ball 29. Amit Mishra removed Matthew Wade and Andrew Fekete. Head went as Mishra snapped him up off Ojha’s bowling.

India “A” kicked off their second innings with KL Rahul (29, 4×4, 1×6) and Abhinav adding 39 for the opening wicket before the former swung hard and Nicolas Maddison at backward square-leg took a good catch.

India A batsmen in action against Australia A.