Australia A v India A, 1st Unofficial Test, Day 3, Review: Australia sniff victory as India bundle out cheaply

Published - 10 Sept 2016, 15:52 IST | Updated - 10 Sept 2016, 15:52 IST

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Australia A displayed tremendous efforts with the ball to bowl out India for a measly 158 in the 2nd innings to help the hosts tightened its grip over the 1st unofficial test. The Indian bowlers, however, continued to bend their backs and kept India is competition by snapping 4 quick wickets before the end of the day. Chasing 159 runs to chase, Australia ended on 59 for 4 at stumps.

After losing both the openers on day two, India did not show any signs of getting a big total as Australia fast bowlers struck at regular intervals. The first wicket to fall in the fresh day was Manish Pandey who gave away his wicket to Daniel Worrall.

Shortly, Shreyas Iyer, who looked in a bit of counter aggressive mood, also lost his wicket after getting caught by Peter Handscomb off Dean Moody’s bowling. The Australians began snapping wickets at a much faster rate from here on. The middle order could not provide any resistance. Karun Nair added just 21 runs, Naman Ojha departed for a duck while Hardik Pandya made only 7 runs.

Luckily for India, Jayant Yadav stood firm and added 46 vital runs to help the Indian scorecard. His sensible batting approach with the tail-enders was highly appreciable. Thanks to his knock India were able to go past the 150 run mark. But, unfortunately, he could not reach his half-century and was the last man to be dismissed.

The Australians did not start well and were rocked by the India fast bowlers who claimed four quick wickets to keep India in the contest. Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur struck twice off back to back deliveries. Opener Joe Burns was the first to depart after Thakur found a way to crash the ball onto his stumps. Travis Dean followed him to the pavilion after giving a catch to Fazal off the very next delivery,

Peter Handscomb could replicate his first innings heroics and threw his wicket to Hardik Pandya after a quick fire 24. Australia went four down after Marcus Stoinis was trapped leg before for a duck.

Australia needs only 100 runs to win with six wickets in hand. But, if the Indian bowlers manage a few early strikes in the opening session tomorrow then we may witness an epic comeback.

Opener Cameron Bancroft and Beau Webster, the two unbeaten batsmen must play Shardul Thakur and Varun Aaron cautiously in the morning session as if both lose their wicket like the rest of the top order, then Australia may find themselves in a deep bothersome situation.