Naman Ojha puts India A ahead against Australia A

Naman Ojha

Brisbane, July 15 (IANS): India A took a 78-run first innings lead against Australia A on the back of another century from wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha at the end of the third day's play in the second and final four-day match at the Allan Border Field here on Tuesday.

The visitors were dismissed for 501 in reply to Australia A's 423. India A resumed at 165/3, and pacer Chadd Sayers was in action again, dismissing Baba Aparajith (28) early on and captain Manoj Tiwary (63), who could only watch on as the ball fell back onto his stumps.

Sayers finished with 5/84 from 30 overs to record his sixth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

Mitchell Marsh also chipped in just before lunch to have Ambati Rayudu caught in the deep for 40, and India A went into the first break at 276/6.

Ojha and Amit Mishra struck out an 84-run partnership before Ben Cutting made the breakthrough and sent the leg-spinner on his way for 36.

Ojha continued his prolific series to raise his bat for his third consecutive century. When Ojha finally departed for 110 off the bowling of Cutting, he had notched up 430 runs in the series without dismissal.

Cutting took the final two wickets (Anureet Singh for 8 and Umesh Yadav for 90, his highest first-class score) to bowl India A out for 501.

Cutting finished with figures of 4/100 from 26.2 overs to complement his innings of 96 on Monday.

Australia A openers Alex Doolan and Phillip Hughes were yet to score in their second innings when play was called early due to bad light. Play will start 30 minutes early on Wednesday.