Chennai: Australia looked off-colour on the second day of the practice match against India-A on Sunday, where they ended up adding 131 runs with the loss of four wickets. Matthew Wade (3) and Moises Henriques (0) were at the crease at the end of day's play.
Shane Watson and Ed Cowan were looking good against the pace-attack and were thrashing Manpreet Gony all over the park. It looked as if Australia were taking the attack back to the Indians. But Rajesh Dhurv trapped Ed Cowan in front of the wicket and that dismissal brought a twist in the match.
From 116 for one, the Aussies were reduced to 127 for four as they lost Phillip Hughes (1), Shane Watson (84) and Usman Khwaja (1) in quick succession. Watson was looking destructive but fell at 84 which he scored at a brisk pace on 87 balls which included 13 fours and one six.
Earlier at the start of the day’s play, India-A resumed their innings and added 113 runs to their first day’s tally before getting bowled out for 451 runs in 128.4 overs. Manoj Tiwary was in his best form as he played a magnificent innings of 129 runs to steer his team to a comfortable position. He struck 18 fours and three sixes and proved his mettle. Tiwary who has always performed when given a chance has been a bit unlucky as far his international career is concerned. But with this knock, he has once again knocked on the doors of selectors to look up to him for the last two Tests against Australia.
India A would have liked to add a few more runs considering that they were 338 for four at stumps on the opening day and with Tiwary in good nick, that was definitely on the cards.
However, the Australian off-break bowler Nathan Lyon and promising 19-year-old left-arm spinner Ashton Agar were having different plans and they picked up five wickets between them to restrict India-A to a total of 451.
Starting on a healthy total, India A lost Gautam early, caught behind off Peter Siddle for the pacer's first wicket of the match.
Manoj Tiwary and Jalaj Saxena tried to hold on the innings and added 76 runs for the sixth wicket before Nathan Lyon broke the partnership by sending Tiwary back to pavilion.
Saxena scored three boundaries to add up 30 runs to his name. Therefater Rakesh Dhurv came to the crease and played a cameo of 21 runs before departing but he made sure that they reach 45o mark comfortably. The tail-enders was not good enough and gave away their wicket cheaply.
Agar ended up three wickets and while Lyon picked up two wickets. Left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty also finished with three wickets, but all of them came on the first day of the practice match.
By Indian Sports News Network