BENGALURU: India A looked good to clinch a victory in what could be a exciting final day’s play by making 62 for 2 in the second innings chasing a winning target of 262 against Australia A on the penultimate day of the four day unofficial ‘test’ match being played at M Chinnswamy stadium on Tuesday.
Australia A, after conceding a 31-run first innings lead, managed to score 292 in the second innings with captain Travis Head scoring a resolute 87. His patient 162 ball innings studded with 13 fours gave a good lesson to the other Aussie batsmen but they wilted under the intense attack from India A bowlers. Head added 81 runs in 25.2 overs with Usman Khawaja (40) for the second wicket but wickets fell at frequent intervals thereafter. Head sustained the Australia A innings before being out but added 50 runs for the fifth wickets with Marnus Labuschangne (37).
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj 3-77, off spinner K Gowtam 2-53 and left arm unorthodox spinner Kuldeep Yadav 2-51 were relentless to restrict the visitors not beyond the 300 mark. In reply India A made 63 for 2 after losing opener Abhimanyu Eshwaran (00) in the third over. Captain Shresyas Iyer made 23. Prolific scorer in the A series Mayank Agarwal batting on 25 and first innings top scorer Ankit Bawne on undefeated six remained at the crease at draw of stumps. (UNI)
