India A suffered yet another top-order collapse and were 73-5 at stumps after the end of day two in the second unofficial Test against Australia A.
India A’s strong batting line-up failed to put up a fight yet again as they collapsed to 56-5 in Melbourne today (November 8). It was their second collapse of the match, having been reduced to 11-4 in the first innings before a composed 80 by Dhruv Jurel helped them post 161.
In reply, Australia A were shot out for 223, with Marcus Harris making 74. Prasidh Krishna, who has been selected in India’s squad for the Australia Tests, picked up 4-50, while Mukesh Kumar got 3-41.
In the second innings, India A already lost their first five wickets by the time they overcame the 62-run deficit.
Abhimanyu Easwaran, who was picked for the Tests and is in line to get a debut in Rohit Sharma’s absence for the first game, failed to put on a solid case for himself as he departed for 17, his fourth low score of the tour in as many outings. He had managed 7 and 12 in the first game and was out for a duck earlier in the second Test.
KL Rahul’s miseries continued as well. Having been asked to fly to Australia for the second match, Rahul was out for 4 in the first innings and was dismissed ridiculously in the second, attempting to leave a ball against the off-spinner.
Sai Sudharsan, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal - all considered the future of India’s batting - managed 3, 11 and 1, respectively as Australia A made early inroads.
It was the third time in four innings that the top-order has failed to get going for India A. In the first innings of the first Test, the visitors were reduced to 32-3, which soon became 79-7. They were eventually bowled out for 107. They managed a stronger performance in the second leg, making 312, with Sudharsan making 103 and Padikkal, who made his debut in the England series this year, scoring 88.
For Australia A, the wickets in the second innings were shared by Nathan McAndrew (2-22), Beau Webster (2-14), and Corey Rocchiccioli (1-18).
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