Australia 'A' v India: Day 2

Australia 'A' forced the initiative on day two of the tour game between Australia 'A' and the touring Indian's. In a match which is seemingly headed for another tame draw, the Australia 'A' players including Tait, Wright and Nicholson boosted their chances of a future Australia selection.

Resuming the day on 1/37, Dasgupta and Chopra guided the tourists past the 50 run mark. Dasgupta was then quickly out, lbw to the pacy Shaun Tait for just 21. With Dasgupta gone, the rusty Sachin Tendulkar looked for time out in the middle.

Tendulkar played some of those magical Tendulkar shots that cricket fans have come to know and love in the past few years. Tendulkar raced along to 36 before he hooked as short Damien Wright ball straight down fine leg's throat. A dissapointment for Tendulkar, but the signs are there for a return to form on Boxing Day.

Sehwag (30) came and blazed away, while Chopra stayed determined and patient at the other end. Sehwag blasted his way to 30 before being caught behind by Wade Seccombe off Tait's sharp bowling. Ganguly (5) fell cheaply to Matthew Nicholson.

At 6/150, Chopra's patient 46 came to an end, as he was unfortunately run out. Chopra, however can take heart from his performance and go to Melbourne with some renewed confidence. Parthiv Patel showed Indian fan's and the selectors why, at just 18, he is something special already.

Parthiv cracked some crisp shots to the boundary as well as playing in his usual defensive manner. Along with Murali Kartik (26) the pair pushed on to 200. After Kartik was run out by Paul Rofe, Parthiv Patel (49) could not get that elusive one run to get to a well deserved half century. Parthiv was caught in the slips by Martin Love off Nicholson's bowling.

India finished all out for 245, with Patel, Chopra and Tendulkar all getting decent starts. The initiative was clearly with Australia 'A', but the Indian bowlers fought back hard on the last session of day two's play.

Lakshimpathy Balaji started well for India getting dangerous opening batsman Chris Rogers for just 2. Irfan Pathan dismissed the prolific Michael Hussey (7) as Australia 'A' struggled to 2/9. Another prolific batsman, Martin Love was bowled for 11 as Balaji struck gold once more.

Those were the only casualties however as Bradley Hodge and Michael Clarke consolidated and guided Australia 'A' to be 3/57 at stumps.


Brief Score Summary:

Aus 'A' (1st Innings): 5/311 dec. (Love 94, Rogers 70, Nehra 2/33, Ganguly 1/38)

India (1st Innings): 245 All Out (Patel 49, Chopra 46, Nicholson 4/25, Tait 3/85)

Aus 'A' (2nd Innings): 3/57 (Clarke 22*, Hodge 11*, Balaji 2/34, Pathan 1/18)




Posted by Sangrah