Australia A v India A 2014: Report on day 2 of the 2nd unofficial Test at Brisbane

Manoj Tiwary raises his bat on reaching his half-century

India A ended day 2 of the 2nd unofficial Test match against Australia A on 165/3, with Baba Aparajith and captain Manoj Tiwary on 20* and 50* respectively.

Robin Uthappa disappoints

Robin Uthappa and KL Rahul opened the batting for the tourists in reply to Australia A’s total of 423 in the 1st innings. Uthappa, who was in brilliant form during the IPL, would have been eager to score runs in these two 4-day games in order to push for a place in the senior side, but he is yet to get going in this series as he chipped Australian seamer Chadd Sayers to Chris Lynn, fielding at mid-on, for just 10.

Uthappa’s wicket brought Jiwanjot Singh to the crease. Singh and Rahul batted patiently and largely nullified the Australian new ball bowlers: taking the team to tea at 84/1. But the tea break seemed to recharge the Australians, as Sayers dismissed the two not out batsmen shortly after tea. The 23-year old Punjab batsman was caught behind for 29 while the opener from Karnataka, after reaching his half-century, was bowled off an inside edge for 52.

The 26-year-old from South Australia is medium pace at best but has the ability of moving the ball both ways. That was very much on show as his movement in the air and off the pitch asked questions of the batsmen. He has certainly done his chances of Australian Test selection no harm, with brilliant figures of 14-5-22-3.

Tiwary and Aparajith, who then came together, ensured no further damage by batting out the rest of the day without taking undue risks, and will resume on day 3 trailing the hosts by 258 runs.

Ben Cutting and Cameron Boyce excel for Australia A

Earlier in the day, Australia A had resumed on their overnight score of 288/7. With a total less than 400 being well below par on a flat pitch, it was important for Queensland colleagues Ben Cutting and Cameron Boyce to put on a substantial partnership. They did so by taking the attack to the bowlers and put on a much-needed stand of 133 for the 8th wicket.

The partnership between the two was looking extremely ominous for the Indians before Boyce, who is no mug with the bat typified by his 3 first-class half centuries before today, was dismissed for a well made 57 off the bowling of Aparajith. Cutting, who has one century in first-class cricket till date, fell 4 runs short of adding to that tally as he was adjudged lbw off Umesh Yadav’s bowling for 96 not long after.

Australia A were bowled out in the 1st innings for the score of 423, with the last 3 wickets falling in the space of 8 runs. Yadav was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors, ending with figures of 29.4-5-83-5.