India A’s bowlers put up a valiant fightback on the second day of the unofficial one-off women’s Test against Australia A, but the hosts extended their overall lead to 192 runs.
India A captain Minnu Mani completed her match haul of 10 wickets, but Kate Peterson’s impressive 5/16 gave Australia a slender 28-run lead in the first innings. Resuming at 100/2, India A looked set to take a substantial lead, but Peterson’s incisive bowling derailed their plans.
Tejal Hasabnis (32) and Shweta Sehrawat (40) were the first to fall, triggering a collapse that saw India A lose five wickets for 27 runs. However, Sayali Satghare (21), Mani (17), and Mannat Kashyap (19) added 56 runs to deny Australia a larger lead.
Mani then turned the tables with the ball, dismissing Georgia Voll and Charli Knott for ducks in consecutive overs. She also accounted for Nicole Faltum (16) and Tess Fintoo, leaving Australia A reeling at 0/4.
Emma de Broughe held firm for the hosts, scoring a gritty 58 off 117 balls. Wicketkeeper Maddy Drake played a crucial role in Australia’s recovery, hitting an unbeaten half-century (54 not out off 100 deliveries).
Drake and Maitlan Brown (26 off 45) added 54 for the sixth wicket before Brown became Mani’s tenth victim. At the end of play, Australia A were 164/7, with Drake and Darke at the crease.
