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Test Cricket: Mukesh Kumar’s six-fer, Padikkal-Sudharsan stand put India A on top against AUS A

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After a forgettable day with the bat to start off the tour, India A bounced back in style at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, with Mukesh Kumar’s six-fer laying the foundation. Australia A began Day 2 on 99 for 4 and added under 100 runs before being bundled out.

In response, India A put on a far better batting show than they did in the first innings, pushed ahead by the pair of Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal. At stumps, the visitors finished on 208 for 2, taking their lead to 120 runs.

Australia A skipper Nathan McSweeney and Cooper Connolly began the day well in their quest to push past India A’s total quickly and push the lead. Connolly in particular looked fluent until he hit a Mukesh delivery to Manav Suthar at square leg.

Josh Phillippe fell in Mukesh’s next over while Nitish Reddy ended McSweeney’s stay to push the hosts further down the barrel to 136 for 7. Through Todd Murphy’s dogged 33, Australia A pushed a little further ahead before being bowled out for 195, as Mukesh finished with figures of 6 for 46.

India A began their second innings with a deficit of 88 runs and were all at sea, reduced to 30 for 2 as both openers – Abhimanyu Easwaran and Ruturaj Gaikwad – departed quickly. But with the conditions siding more with the batters at this stage, Sudharsan and Padikkal dragged their side out with a solid stand worth 178 runs, that was unbroken by the end of the day.

Neither showed any urgency or intent to counter-attack in the face of trouble, but did use their feet well against Murphy. While Sudharsan faced 185 balls for his 96* – including 9 fours, Padikkal fronted 167 deliveries for his 80* – laced with five boundaries.

The latter even earned a reprieve at 31 when he hit one ball from Fergus O’Neill straight to McSweeney at short extra-cover, only for it to be deemed a no-ball. He made the most of it to push the team to the close of play without any further damage.

Brief Scores: India A 107 & 208/2 (Sai Sudharsan 96*, Devdutt Padikkal 80*; Fergus O’Neill 1-33) lead Australia A 195 (Nathan McSweeney 39; Mukesh Kumar 6-46, Prasidh Krishna 3-59) by 120 runs

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