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Australia A 54 for two path India A 162 (Jurel 80, Neser 4-27, Webster 3-19) by 108 runs
Dhruv Jurel proved he could possibly be picked as a middle-order batter in Australia with an excellent 80 whereas KL Rahul and Nathan McSweeney’s hopes of enjoying within the first Check as openers for his or her respective nations have been dented on a day of wealthy storylines on the MCG the place the seam bowlers dominated.
Australia’s Check back-up seamer Michael Neser was a key a part of the drama, ripping by India A’s prime order taking 4 for 27, together with two within the first over of the day, to assist bowl them out for simply 161. However he limped off with a hamstring damage and has been dominated out of bowling once more within the match.
Rahul wasn’t one in all Neser’s victims however he fell for simply 4 within the second over of the day to Scott Boland. Fellow Check hopeful Abhimanyu Easwaran was Neser’s first scalp within the opening over of the day for a duck.
However Jurel, who like Rahul had been flown in at quick discover to play for India A, confirmed he has the sport and the temperament to deal with high-quality seam bowling in Australian situations making an aesthetic 80 after strolling out to bat at 11 for 4 within the third over.
Later within the afternoon, all eyes have been on McSweeney in Australia A’s reply as he opened for the primary time in his first-class profession with a Check spot on the road. And whereas he began brightly with a crisp pull shot off Khaleel Ahmed, he was caught at second slip for simply 14, squared up on the again foot pushing at a superb supply from Mukesh Kumar {that a} extra skilled opener may need left.
Marcus Harris, in the meantime, proved why the Australia selectors consider he’s essentially the most dependable opening choice of these within the combine, surviving a difficult 17.1 overs underneath lights to complete unbeaten on 26 earlier than rain ended the day early with Australia A 53 for two.
It was carnage for India A’s prime order on the opening morning. After being despatched in on a inexperienced, bouncy pitch, they slumped to 65 for five at lunch with Neser claiming 4 for 16 from eight overs together with a double-wicket maiden within the opening over of the day.
As anticipated, Rahul opened the batting however watched from the non-striker’s as Neser had Abhimanyu caught within the gully. He was squared up making an attempt to defend off the again foot to a rising supply that was not categorical tempo but it surely seamed and bounced to catch the shoulder of the bat.
Subsequent ball, Sai Sudharsan, recent off a century in Mackay, was caught at second slip in the same method. He was squared up on the crease and not sure whether or not to play or depart a ball that rose throughout him. Once more, it wasn’t categorical tempo however moderately bounce and seam motion that prompted him to run it off the face of the bat to slide.
Rahul then took strike to a different of Australia’s reserve Check quicks in Boland. He obtained off the mark with a beautiful on-drive first ball however three balls later Boland pulled the size again a contact, angled into off and seamed away to catch the sting and ship Rahul on his method for 4.
Neser then bowled a peach to Ruturaj Gaikwad. From wider of the crease he angled into off, the right-hander needed to play, it seamed away late to take the sting and Cameron Bancroft took his second catch at second slip diving ahead.
Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal steadied within the face some high-quality seam bowling. When Neser and Boland got a relaxation they weren’t underneath as a lot stress from Nathan McAndrew and Beau Webster.
McSweeney turned again to his important pair earlier than lunch and Neser broke the 43-run stand with one other excellent supply. Bowling across the wicket to Padikkal, he pitched quick and huge with the left-hander considering a reduce shot was on. The ball swerved again at him late to cramp him fully and he sliced a thick edge to Corey Rocchiccioli within the gully.
Having held agency within the first session, Jurel expanded within the second. He appeared rock stable in defence and picked off the uncommon scoring alternatives once they introduced. Whereas his team-mates struggled to deal with the bounce and seam motion, Jurel was compact and sharp on his ft. He reduce and pulled nicely, taking up two males behind sq. on a number of events with nice success. He by no means appeared flustered at any stage regardless of watching team-mates come and go on the different finish, putting six fours and two sixes in his 186-ball innings.
He discovered an ally briefly in fellow Check squad member Nitish Kumar Reddy. The pair shared a 39-run stand however Reddy by no means actually settled. On 16, he skipped down the observe to Webster who dug the ball briefly in response. Reddy flapped a reduce shot and obtained a skinny edge to the keeper. In the identical over, Tanush Kotian shouldered arms and misplaced his off stump. Webster had 3 for 15 when Khaleel was caught at slip as India A slumped to 119 for 8.
However Jurel shepherded Prasidh Krishna and the pair added 36 for the ninth wicket because the ball misplaced it is hardness and Neser limped off. However each males holed out to spin simply after tea.
Australia A had slightly below two hours to bat within the night session and whereas situations have been simpler than the morning, it was nonetheless troublesome towards the brand new ball as McSweeney came upon.
Harris rode his luck. He performed and missed twice in a row off Krishna with free tried drives outdoors off. He additionally nicked Khaleel wanting a diving Jurel. However in between occasions he performed some neat strokes together with a trademark reduce and a textbook off drive.
Cameron Bancroft’s surprising run of type continued including simply 3 runs to his season first-class tally of simply 29 from seven innings earlier than choosing out ahead sq. with a well-timed pull shot.
Alex Malcolm is an affiliate editor at ESPNcricinfo
