India A vs Australia A 2nd Test, Day 3: AUS 127/5, leads IND-A by 353 runs, Philippe made fast 50 as usual

Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow (Vatsal Verma) :  Following Josh Philippe, McSweeney achieved his fifty off 98 balls. The approach mirrored that of the first innings: playing according to the merit of the ball. He executed some exquisite pulls, contributing to a solid innings. Manav Suthar had Josh Philippe caught behind while attempting to defend, resulting in his dismissal after scoring 50 runs from 46 balls.

Day Two of the second unofficial Test between India A and Australia A in Lucknow became a nightmare for the home team, as their batting lineup struggled in response to the visitors’ formidable first-innings total of 420. India A was bowled out for a mere 194, yielding a significant 226-run lead, which Australia A further increased by the end of the day.

After a strong performance on Day One, Australia A took advantage of an inconsistent Indian bowling effort and systematically dismantled the Indian top and middle order with equal effectiveness. With only B Sai Sudharsan’s resilient 75 runs providing any real resistance, India A’s batting never gained any momentum. The early dismissal of KL Rahul, who was returning to red-ball cricket in preparation for the upcoming home series against the West Indies, further undermined India’s chances of mounting a comeback. The most significant disappointment stemmed from the middle order, as Devdutt Padikkal, captain Dhruv Jurel, and Nitish Kumar Reddy all fell for single-digit scores, revealing the batting unit’s vulnerability.

Despite the fall of wickets, Sudharsan exhibited commendable composure. The left-handed batsman crafted a well-balanced 75, demonstrating patience against Australia A’s challenging bowling attack. His innings was distinguished by a harmonious blend of defensive play and the ability to keep the scoreboard moving.