Before the commencement of the highly-anticipated four-match Border Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia from December 17 in Adelaide, India A locked horns with Australia A for a three-day practice match between December 6 and December 8 in Drummoyne Oval, Sydney. However, the match ended in a tame draw as the visiting team suffered a batting collapse in the second innings.
Winning the toss, Ajinkya Rahane elected to bat first and he scored a scintillating century (117 runs) and a half-century (54 runs) from y Cheteshwar Pujara, India A decided to declare the first innings at 247/9 at the end of Day 1. On the next day, Umesh Yadav was the pick of the bowlers for India A, but Cameron Green spoiled teh party by scoring a century and the hosts took a lead of 39 runs before the sunset with a score of 286/8. The final day of the game began with Green and Mark Steketee going strong against India’s lethal bowling attack.
WATCH – WIll Pucovski Suffered A Blow On His Head During The Warm-up Game
Mohammed Siraj finally took the wicket of Steketee, who was playing at 10, and Australia declared their innings at 306/9 after taking a lead by 59 runs.
In the second innings, the Indian batting line-up witnessed an early collapse as the pacer Steketee breathed fire with the ball and took a five-wicket haul. The opening duo of Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill started on a good note as they collected 37 runs in 6.5 overs but Cameron Green named the wicket of both the batsmen. Highest run-getters of the previous innings for India, Rahane and Pujara also didn’t contribute much as the former got out on 28 while the latter bagged a duck.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha emerged as the highest run-getter for the Inai A team as he played a gritty knock of 54 runs with the help of 7 boundaries. At one stage, India A was struggling at 143/9 but Saha and Kartik Tyagi fought hard to keep the opposition at bay as they added 46 runs in 13.1 overs. For Australia A, apart from Mark, Michael Neser and Green bagged a couple of wickets each. India declared their second innings at 189/9 and was leading by 130 runs.
WATCH – Cheteshwar Pujara Gets Dismissed On A Unplayable Delivery
While chasing 131, Australia A received a huge blow as Joe Burns got out on a duck in the first over while Will Pucovski suffered a blow on his headand went out for concussion while batting at 23. However, Marcus Harris and Travis Head remained not-out on 25 and 2 respectively as India couldn’t take any more wickets. By the end of Day 3, Australia managed only 52 runs on the board and the match resulted in a draw.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the gritty knock of Wriddhiman Saha:
You don’t see Pujara’s off stump pegged back too often but a peach of a delivery from Neser has done just that. Looked as though it angled in and nipped away. Pujara’s defence is breached and he goes for a duck! 2/46 #AUSAvIND
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) December 8, 2020
Like all great batsmen, Cheteshwar Pujara just sat down to watch a replay of his dismissal, analysed it briefly & internally before moving on #AUSvIND #AUSAvIND
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 8, 2020
Beauty! Seam bowling perfection from Michael Neser to knock over Cheteshwar Pujara #AUSAvIND pic.twitter.com/Jy55DzEySh
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2020
India A vs Australia A first warmup match ended in draw:
– Pujara, Rahane, Saha, Umesh, Siraj, Ashwin has been the positives.
– Second opening spot is wide open in the absence of Rohit.
– All eyes on second warm up with Pink ball.— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 8, 2020
The first practice game between India A and Australia A ended in draw. The positives for India:
-Ajinkya Rahane's form. He looked great in the first innings with his fantastic century.
-Wriddhiman Saha's match saving fifty in the second inning.
-Mohammad Siraj bowling. pic.twitter.com/YQfucb4clW
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 8, 2020
