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Australia A 223 (Harris 74, Prasidh 4-50, Mukesh 3-41) and 169 for 4 (Konstas 73*, Webster 46*) beat India A 161 (Jurel 90, Neser 4-27, Webster 3-19) and 229 (Jurel 68, Rocchiccioli 4-74, Webster 3-49) by six wickets
Sam Konstas signalled he’s a participant for the longer term, even when he may not be prepared for the primary Take a look at, making an excellent unbeaten half-century to information Australia A house in a tough run chase on the MCG after Dhruv Jurel and Prasidh Krishna gave India A hope whereas placing their hand as much as play within the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Konstas, batting at No. 4 on this match for the primary time in his brief profession after showing to be faraway from the Take a look at opening calculations, made a composed 73 not out alongside Beau Webster, who made an unbeaten 46, to information Australia A to a 2-0 sequence win after slumping to 73 for 4 chasing 168 within the fourth innings.
Earlier, Jurel made his second half-century of the match whereas Prasidh made 29 as India’s tail wagged with contributions from Nitish Kumar Reddy and Tanush Kotian guaranteeing Australia A had a tough chase after the sport threatened to complete early on day three.
Prasidh then struck twice within the opening over of the fourth innings with Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft falling for geese in consecutive deliveries. Nathan McSweeney solely made 25 as Australia A slumped to 48 for 3 and 73 for 4 earlier than Konstas and Webster mixed for an unbeaten 96-run stand to win the sport.
Australia’s A chase acquired off to a disastrous begin and Australia’s selectors didn’t get the ultimate items of knowledge they have been hoping for from Harris and McSweeney. Harris performed a half-committed drive to a really full ball and was given out caught behind off the within edge. His luck from day two might need evened out because it was not fully clear whether or not he hit it. Bancroft’s horror run of type continued when he was hit on the toe by a cracking yorker and given lbw. It was tight to leg however in all probability hitting. Bancroft has scored 29 runs in eight first-class innings up to now this season, together with 4 geese, with any hopes of a Take a look at recall utterly dashed in the intervening time.
McSweeney seemed organised in his final bid to persuade selectors he’s worthy of opening the batting within the Perth Take a look at. He hardly made an error in his 69-ball 25. However he was undone by a cracking supply from Mukesh Kumar that angled into off and nipped away to catch the sting.
Konstas, 19, then confirmed the composure and the batting craft that has so many astute judges in Australian cricket cooing. He weathered the storm with resolute defence after which started to increase because the ball acquired softer and Kotian got here into the assault. He unfurled a cracking pull shot off Prasidh after which skipped out to Kotian a number of occasions to bang him excessive down the bottom. He additionally sat again and punched him via the off aspect. He did not get sucked into enjoying at balls outdoors his leg stump when a brief leg and leg gully have been set for him.
He misplaced Ollie Davies for a brisk 21 when his New South Wales team-mate misjudged the size from Kotian utterly and was bowled making an attempt an bold minimize shot.
Webster settled after a nervy begin and hit the ball with trademark energy to assist ease the stress of the chase. The pair rattled alongside, hanging 13 boundaries and a six between them. They scored quick sufficient for the umpires to increase play with an additional half-hour to win the sport on the third night time. Konstas solely gave one life, with substitute Abishek Porel dropping him at deep sq. with 15 runs to win.
Earlier within the day, Jurel was as soon as once more the fulcrum that held India A’s batting along with one other excellent knock. There have been three 50-plus scores within the match and he has two of them. His 68 was the important thing to giving the guests a complete to defend regardless of 4 wickets to Corey Rocchiccioli and three to Webster.
In contrast to the primary innings although, he did want a big stroke of luck. Early within the morning, on 25, he uppercut Scott Boland to deep third absentmindedly with a fielder positioned there for that actual shot. Ollie Davies needed to run ahead and dive however he spilled the tough probability supplied regardless of getting two fingers to it. Had that been held, India A would have been 85 for six, main by simply 23 and in peril of shedding earlier than lunch.
Thereafter, the momentum swung in India A’s favour. Jurel and Reddy shared a pivotal 94-run stand to present their aspect an opportunity. Jurel’s class shone via once more. He pounced on something brief or overpitched and was rock strong in defence. Whereas his team-mates have seemed all at sea towards the additional bounce on the MCG, Jurel has seemed proper at residence with a sport tailormade for Australian situations.
Reddy performed his finest innings of the tour to-date, hanging 5 fours and a six in a key supporting position. Australia A struggled to penetrate given they have been a bowler down after the lack of Michael Neser on day one.
However simply as Jurel acquired a stranglehold on the sport, he holed out to deep sq. off Rocchiccioli to open the door to the tail. Three overs later, Reddy fell to Webster for the third time in 4 innings. It was additionally the third time he was bounced out, gloving one to the keeper attempting to hook to advantageous leg.
That left India A 162 for 7 with a lead of simply 100. However the final three wickets added 67 to make sure Australia would have a tough chase. Kotian and Prasidh pissed off the bowlers with an entertaining and important 49-run stand. They struck 9 fours and a six between them. Kotian posted the fourth-highest rating of the match, making 44. Prasidh’s innings was bewildering. He constantly backed away however slapped the ball with energy each side of the wicket in a breezy 29. He ultimately fell to a sensational diving catch at deep midwicket by Konstas.
Kotian added 28 with Mukesh Kumar who scored simply 1 earlier than miscuing one to mid-off. Rocchiccioli wrapped up the innings together with his fourth wicket, pinning Mukesh plumb lbw.
Alex Malcolm is an affiliate editor at ESPNcricinfo
