Suthar’s Five-for, Fifties from McSweeney and Edwards Shine on Day 1, India A bowled out on 194

Unofficial Test: Manav Suthar’s Five-for, Fifties from McSweeney and Edwards Shine on Day 1, India A bowled out on 194

India A vs Australia A 2nd Unofficial Test: Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar picked up a five-wicket haul while Gurnoor Brar took three wickets. Siraj and Krishna took a wicket each. While the home team was unable to dominate with the bat, they were bowled out for 194 in 52.5 overs.

India A’s left-arm spinner Manav Suthar stole the spotlight on the opening day with a five-wicket haul (5 for 93), helping to slow down Australia A’s middle order on a mixed-soil pitch in Lucknow. He was the only specialist spinner picked for the match and bowled with great control, especially in the second session.

Australia A’s innings had its ups and downs. Opener Sam Konstas, who had scored a century in the first match, made a cautious 49 off 91 balls before falling to Mohammed Siraj. Siraj, along with KL Rahul, was added to the squad ahead of India’s upcoming Test series against the West Indies. The dismissal came just after a mid-innings switch in wicketkeeping duties N Jagadeesan took the catch after replacing captain Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps.

This was the second time in the series that Jurel and Jagadeesan swapped keeping roles mid-innings. Jurel, who took over captaincy after Shreyas Iyer withdrew from the match, is likely to be part of India’s Test squad alongside Jagadeesan.

Australia A’s Ollie Peake was dismissed for 29 by Suthar, who also removed Cooper Connolly for a duck in the next over. At 150 for 4, the visitors were in trouble, but captain Nathan McSweeney steadied the innings with a well-made 74 in humid conditions. He praised the pitch for its pace and swing, and credited his partnership with Konstas for setting up a solid start.

Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar, who has previously trained with the senior India team, dismissed McSweeney with a catch taken by Ayush Badoni who replaced Iyer in the playing XI.

Later in the day, Josh Philippe and Jack Edwards launched a counterattack. Philippe scored a quick 39 off 33 before falling to Suthar, while Edwards smashed 88 off 78 balls, hitting 11 fours and a six. Todd Murphy, batting at No. 10, supported Edwards well and helped push the score further.

Their ninth-wicket stand of 55 ended when Brar got Edwards out in the 82nd over. Murphy and No.11 Henry Thornton survived the final few overs, taking Australia A safely to stumps.