Australia-A asserted control on the third day of the second ‘Test’ at the Siechem Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday, leaving India-A with a predicament ahead of the final day.
Tanush Kotian also lost his off-stump, but to Corey Rocchiccioli, who got one to turn square and run through his bat-pad. But attacking comes with its perils, as B. Sai Sudharsan found out, chopping on against Murphy on a short, wide delivery. Shaik Rasheed’s watchful vigil was eventually for nothing. Liam Hatcher generated reverse-swing to send a length delivery tailing in into his off-stump. India also had to replace the India-bound Anshul Kamboj, who left the camp after lunch, with Praful Hinge. The opening pair could have scored more had Philippe not chased a risky single and ran himself out to a Tushar Deshpande direct-hit. Konstas ran hard between the wickets, but shuffled too far across to Kotian and saw his leg-stump broken. He made the most of it, starting with a sweep on the first ball after his reprieve.
At 28 for one at stumps, still 337 away from the target, with the looming threat from Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiciolli, India-A has little choice except going after the target. The visitor had tightened the noose in the morning session by bowling out India-A for 167, taking a massive 191-run lead. India-A lost its final five wickets for just 10 runs. The pitch looked nowhere close to a minefield as Josh Philippe (26, 41b, 3×4) and Sam Konstas (40, 72b, 1×4) put on a 50-run partnership for the opening wicket. Jason Sangha (44 n.o., 63b, 4×4, 1×6) had a reprieve against Kotian on zero as Devdutt Padikkal spilled an edge at first slip. Sangha deposited Kotian into the sight-screen and was on the cusp of a fifty when Handscomb declared on 173 and threw the gauntlet at India-A. The scores: Australia-A 358 & 173/4 decl. in 49 overs (Sam Konstas 40, Jason Sangha 44 n.o) vs India-A 167 in 68 overs (Shaik Rasheed 42) & 28/1 in 13 overs.