Report: India A vs Australians, Day 2
First Published : 17 Feb 2013, 18:12
Last Modified : 17 Feb 2013, 23:35
Powered by a century from Manoj Tiwary (129), India A set a formidable 451-run total on board in the first innings. When stumps were drawn on the rain-marred second day at the Guru Nanak Stadium in Chennai, the Australians were reeling at 131 for 4, having lost all their top four batsmen.
Shane Watson (84) and Ed Cowan (40) begun the Australian innings on an attacking note, notching up 116 runs in 22.4 overs. It came to an end when Rakesh Dhruv snapped Cowan up lbw. In the next over Jalaj Saxena provided the second breakthrough by getting Phil Hughes (1) stumped.
Saxena returned to dismiss Usman Khawaja (1) shortly before Dhruv got his second wicket in form of Watson. The Australian opener was caught behind for an 87-ball 84.
Matthew Wade (3) and Moises Henriques (1) are the overnight batsmen for the Australians.
Earlier, Tiwary and CM Gautam resumed India A innings from overnight score of 338 for 4 and could add only eight more runs before Peter Siddle broke the partnership. After Gautam was out caught behind, Jalaj Saxena joined Tiwary to put up a half-century stand for the sixth wicket.
Tiwary’s knock came to an end when Nathan Lyon got his first wicket. The Bengal batsman laced his innings with 18 fours and a couple of sixes. Lyon came back to finish the India A innings by scalping the last wicket, Dhawal Kulkarni.
Ashton Agar, who was taken apart by Gambhir and company on the first day, made pulled himself together well on the second day. The 19 year-old left-arm-spinner dismissed claimed three wickets, albeit those of the lower-order batsmen. Only two of India A’s wickets went to pacers as Moises Henriques and Siddle scalped one each.
Brief Scores
Day 2: Australians 131 for 4 (Watson 84, Saxena 2/14)
Day 1: India A 451 for 10 (Tiwary 129, Gambhir 112, Doherty 3/108)
