New Delhi: Team India set a 225-run target for Australia A in the first unofficial Test at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. Sai Sudharsan batted brilliantly and smashed his seventh first-class century. He scored 103 runs off 200 balls with the help of nine boundaries.
Devdutt Paddikal also scored 88 runs off 199 balls and helped India post a good total in the second innings. Sudharsan reached to his first century on Australian soil with a quick single against Todd Murphy. He was removed by the off-spinner as India A suffered a collapse after a 198-run partnership between Sudharsan and Padikkal.
💯 for Sai Sudharsan
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Murphy removed both batters in successive overs as India A went from 226 for 3 to 287 for 6. Brendon Doggett dismissed Baba Indrajith on 6 runs while Ishan Kishan (32) and all-rounder Nitish Reddy (17) failed to score big runs after getting a good start.
Sai Sudharsan’s sensational form is unlikely to go unnoticed as India look for backup options at the top order and the team management might ask him to stay back in Australia for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting November 22. The selectors picked Abhimanyu Easwaran as the backup opener, but he failed to score runs in both innings of the first unofficial Test in MacKay.
Mukesh Kumar shines with 6 wickets
Earlier, Australia A were bundled out for 195 runs in the 1st innings. Mukesh Kumar picked up 6 wickets for India while Prasidh Krishna also took three wickets. Mukesh removed opener Sam Konstas on a duck in the first over while Prasidh dismissed Bancroft in the fourth over to put some pressure on the hosts. Prasidh picked up another wicket and removed Marcus Harris on 17 runs.
McSweeney and Cooper Connelly stitched a 50-run partnership but after that it was Mukesh Kumar show in Mackay. He dismissed Webster, Connolly, Philippe, Murphy and Doggett as Australia got all out for 195 runs.
