Marcus Harris’ gritty 74 and a crucial last-wicket stand between Corey Rocchiccioli and Nathan McAndrew propelled Australia A to a 62-run first innings lead over India A on a rain-affected second day at the MCG.
Harris, vying for a Test recall, held Australia A’s innings together through two rain delays, anchoring the innings with a patient knock. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, valuable contributions from Jimmy Peirson, McAndrew, and Rocchiccioli helped Australia A post a competitive 223.
Prasidh Krishna continued his impressive tour with four wickets, while Mukesh Kumar bagged three for India A. However, India A’s second innings faltered, losing five wickets for 73 runs. McAndrew and Beau Webster did the damage in the absence of Michael Neser, who injured his hamstring on day one.
KL Rahul, who is being considered as a potential replacement for Rohit Sharma in the first Test in Perth, failed again, falling for just 10 to the offspin of Rocchiccioli in bizarre fashion. Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, and Ruturaj Gaikwad also departed cheaply, leaving India A in a precarious position.
Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy held the innings together for India A, but the lead remains a slender 11 runs at stumps. The pitch has proven challenging for both sides, with only Harris and Peirson managing to pass 35 so far.
Australia A’s last-wicket stand could prove crucial in the context of the match, as they look to build a substantial lead and put pressure on India A. The third day promises to be pivotal, with India A needing to bat with resilience and Australia A aiming to capitalize on their advantage.
