India A vs Australia A, 1st Unofficial Test, Day 3, Review: Action heading towards a close finish in Bangalore

India A need 199 runs to win with eight wickets in hand.

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Mohammed Siraj
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Mohammed Siraj of India A. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)

The first unofficial Test between India A and Australia A is tantalisingly poised thanks to some exceptional batting effort by the visitors on the third day. They batted well and set the opposition a tough target of 262 runs in the fourth innings. Very few must have given them the chance after a collapse on the first day but by limiting India A’s lead in the first innings, the Aussies made a stunning comeback.

The third day began with them leading by 11 runs and it needed some superb batting from them to put the home side under pressure. The overnight duo of Usman Khawaja and Travis Head denied India A any wicket early on in the morning and added 81 runs for the second wicket. The former was castled by none other than Mohammed Siraj on 40 which brought about the downfall of Peter Handscomb and Mitchell Marsh as well to leave them struggling at 134/4.

But Head and the first innings half-centurion Marnus Labuschagne rebuilt the innings with a brief partnership. Just when it seemed that they have got the measure of the opposition bowlers, Head’s stumps were disturbed by Krishnappa Gowtham for 87 as he missed out on a well-deserved century. The lead had swelled over 150 runs by then and some useful contributions from the lower order kept Australia A afloat.

Eventually, they were bowled out for 292 runs in the 84th over as Siraj finished with 11 wickets in the match. India A were set the target o 262 in the fourth innings with the pitch deteriorating fast.

India A lose two wickets

The hosts had 20 overs to see off by the end of the day. However, they were rocked early with Ravikumar Samarth failing to open his account thanks to Chris Tremain who trapped him in front of the stumps. The skipper Shreyas Iyer then counter-attacked but his brief knock couldn’t sustain much. He was dismissed with only 10 overs to go in the day by Jon Holland. Agarwal stayed unbeaten on 25 after playing 70 deliveries as India A ended the day on 63/2.

The final day will be an interesting one as both the teams have an equal chance of winning the game. Australia A will have to bowl well though on a turning pitch and exploit more out of the surface.

Brief Scores

Australia A 243 after 75.3 overs (U Khawaja 127; M Siraj 8/59) & 292 after 83.5 overs (T Head 87; M Siraj 3/87)

India A 274 after 83.1 overs (A Bawne 91*, M Agarwal 47; M Neser 4/61, J Holland 3/89) & 63/2 after 20 overs (M Agarwal 25*; C Tremain 1/16)

State of the Match: India A need 199 runs with eight wickets in hand.

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