Top order leaves India in lurch as ‘Test’ slips away

Chennai, August 1
With their back to the wall after conceding a big first innings lead, India A top-order faltered once again. As a result, the hosts were 267 for six, ahead by just 53 runs, at the end of the third day’s play against Australia A in the second unofficial ‘Test’.
Trailing by 214 runs, the India A top-order failed to convert the starts into big scores with opener Abhinav Mukund (59), Shreyas Iyer (48) and Virat Kohli (45) falling when they appeared set for big knocks.
Earlier, the visitors added 20 runs to their overnight total of 329 for nine before left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha (4-107) knocked off the last wicket.
Skipper Cheteshwar Pujara (11) failed to lay a strong foundation when he ran himself out early on in the second innings. Kohli worked hard for his 45 before being cleaned up by a Steve O’Keefe (3-83) turner.
Karun Nair (31) was dismissed by pace spearhead Gurinder Sandhu (1/74) as the Usman Khawaja-led side reduced the hosts to 134 for three. Mukund and Iyer then stitched a 70-run fourth-wicket partnership to stage a bit of recovery, but Ashton Agar (1/71) broke the crucial stand by removing Mukund. Iyer followed soon after when O’Keefe cleaned him up in the very next over. Wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha (30) put up a 47-run stand with Baba Aparajith (28no) for the sixth wicket but O’Keefe once again got the breakthrough. Ojha struck a six and three fours in his 44-ball stay before giving a leading edge to Khawaja at slip.
Aparajith and Shreyas Gopal (0) are holding the fort as the hosts face a tough final day against the side hungry for a win.
Brief scores: India A 135 & 267/6 (Abhinav Mukund 59, Shreya Iyer 49; Steve O’Keefe 3-83); Australia A 349 (Cameron Bancroft 150, Callum Ferguson 54; Baba Aparajith 5-86, Pragyan Ojha 4-107).