Mukesh Kumar celebrates the wicket of Australia A's Sam Konstas. (Cricket Australia)India A seamer Mukesh Kumar ran through Australia A’s batting order, picking up 6 for 46 to restrict the hosts to 195 runs in their first innings. Despite his efforts, Australia A secured a crucial first-innings lead of 88 runs.
In response to India A’s first-innings score of 107, the home side ended Day 1 on 4/99 at stumps.
The first wicket to fall was 19-year-old Sam Konstas, who was dismissed for a duck in the opening over, caught behind off Mukesh Kumar on the third ball of the innings. With one Test hopeful back in the hut, another, Cameron Bancroft, followed suit without scoring, caught down the leg side off the same bowler.
Marcus Harris fought hard for his 17 but was caught in the slips off the bowling of Prasidh Krishna. Mukesh Kumar then removed Beau Webster (37), keeping Australia A under pressure.
On Day 2, the overnight batters, captain Nathan McSweeney (39) and Cooper Connolly (37), resumed positively, putting on 51 runs for the fifth wicket, the first fifty-run stand of the match. Mukesh struck again, breaking the partnership by removing Connolly. Josh Philippe became Mukesh’s fourth victim. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy dismissed captain McSweeney, leaving Australia A reeling at 136 for 7.
A 41-run stand for the ninth wicket between Todd Murphy (33) and Fergus O’Neill (13) frustrated the Indians until Prasidh Krishna dismissed O’Neill, picking up his third wicket.
Mukesh completed his five-wicket haul by cleaning up Brendan Doggett, later adding another by dismissing Murphy.
In India A’s second innings, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (5) fell cheaply, leaving India A still trailing by 76 runs.
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