AUS-A vs IND-A, 1st Test, Day 2: Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal Bolster India's Innings After Mukesh Masterclass
India were aided to safety, overcoming their run-deficit and taking over the lead, as stumps were called with Sudarshan on 96* and Padikkal standing at 80*.
Fortunes finally turned around for India A, as Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal put up a scintillating 178-run partnership to pile the pressure on hosts Australia A, who were earlier undone by Mukesh Kumar on Friday.
Mukesh displayed his clinicality and composure with a brilliant 18-over spell of 6/46, completely dismantling the AUS batters. He was assisted by Prasidh Krishna’s fiery spell of 3/59, which saw both pacer ransack the Australian batting ranks for 197 runs.
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Following the masterclass from Mukesh, the onus was now on the Indian batters, who had failed miserably in the first innings to help dig themselves out of their slump.
But, that wouldn’t necessarily be the case from the get-go for India, who lost both openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Ruturaj Gaikwad cheaply, within just 30 runs.
Up next were Sai Sudarshan and Devdutt Padikkal, who would go on to put up a stellar stand at the crease, as the duo eased India’s way out of danger.
Playing with calculated aggression, both batters played through their session, patiently picking their moments to swat away at a couple boundaries, to reach their fifties respectively.
Australia A would be subjected to the brilliance of both batters, who would punish the hosts by playing their game at their pace.
The hosts wouldn’t have any more luck with the ball for the day, as stumps were called with Sudarshan on 96* and Padikkal standing at 80*.
Sai Sudharsan – 96*(185)Devdutt Padikkal – 80*(167)Two young talents showing the skill in Australia, incredible from both players after being tough to bat through the match for both sides. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/EjRRTPxpHO
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 1, 2024
After a shaky start from AUS-A themselves, which saw them end Day 1 on 99/4, skipper Nathan McSweeney and Beau Webster both looked set to take control of the innings from the beginning of Day 2.
But alas, Mukesh and his entourage of pacers would not let that happen, as the wickets began to rain in after the dismissal of Webster.
AUS-A struggled to find any stability, as Mukesh ran riot with the ball, ravaging through their lower-middle order to rack up his fifer.
A composed stand from spinner Todd Murphy, who notched 33 runs off 47 balls, proved to be the difference maker for AUS-A which aided them to a disappointing 197 before Mukesh ended the run by getting the edge off Murphy.
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