After getting bowled out for 230 on the first day, the India ‘A’ bowlers have brought their side back into the contest, with a superb performance to give their team a slender lead of two runs against Australia ‘A’ in their four-day unofficial match at the Allan Border field in Brisbane.
Resuming at 25 for no loss, the hosts lost Cameron Bancroft early and then Travis Dean followed suit as well to leave them 39 for 2. But then Joe Burns and captain Peter Handscomb started the rebuilding act, accumulating runs at a steady pace to slowly gain the upper hand.
The duo put on 118 runs for the third wicket to put their side into the driver’s seat, before Hardik Pandya made the decisive breakthrough, removing Burns for 78. Handscomb was then run-out for 87 as the visitors began to claw back.
The lower middle-order couldn’t carry the good work put by the Burns and Handscomb forward, as Jayant Yadav and Varun Aaron wrapped them quickly to bowl Australia A out for 228.
The hosts, however, ensured that the game remained on an even keel at exactly the half-way mark in the game, after removing both openers cheaply to end the day at 44 for 2 with Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey in the middle.
Like he did in the first innings, the onus will once again be on Pandey on Day three to carry his team to a total that could help put India A in prime position for a win.
India ‘A’ 230 and 44 for 2(Iyer 6*, Pandey 7*) vs Australia ‘A’ 228(Burns 78, Handscomb 87, Yadav 3-44 Aaron 3-41)
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