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Dhruv Jurel, the wicketkeeper-batter, continued to impress with his second consecutive half-century in the second unofficial Test against Australia A. However, his efforts were not enough to prevent India A from losing the match by six wickets on the third day.
With this defeat, India A lost the two-match series 0-2. They had earlier lost the first unofficial Test by seven wickets in Mackay.
Resuming their innings at 73 for 5, India A found themselves in a precarious position.
Jurel, who had scored a valiant 80 in the first innings, once again emerged as the standout performer for his team. He played with composure and determination, top-scoring with a patient 68 off 122 balls, an innings that included five boundaries.
Jurel found a capable partner in Nitish Kumar Reddy, and together they forged a crucial 94-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Reddy contributed a valuable 38 runs to the partnership.
Prasidh Krishna (29) and Tanush Kotian (44) also made useful contributions with the bat, helping India A reach a total of 229 runs in their second innings. This left Australia A with a target of 168 runs to win the match.
Off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli was the pick of the bowlers for Australia A in India’s second innings, finishing with impressive figures of 4 for 74. He received good support from all-rounder Beau Webster (3 for 49) and right-arm fast bowler Nathan McAndrew (2 for 53).
Australia A’s chase got off to a shaky start as they lost two early wickets. Pacer Prasidh Krishna, who troubled the Australian batters with his bounce and accuracy, dismissed Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft off consecutive deliveries in the opening over, providing India A with a glimmer of hope.
Prasidh Krishna’s performance in the match, in which he took six wickets, will have boosted his chances of earning a call-up to the Indian Test squad as a backup seamer to Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Mukesh Kumar then got the better of Australia A skipper Nathan McSweeney (25), inducing an edge that was safely pouched by Jurel behind the stumps. Australia A were reeling at 48 for 3, and India A sensed an opportunity to stage an unlikely comeback.
However, Sam Kontas held the innings together for Australia A with an unbeaten 73 off 128 balls.
Oliver Davies provided some entertainment with a quickfire 21 off 22 balls.
Kontas and Webster then combined for an unbroken 96-run partnership for the fifth wicket to see Australia A home in 47.5 overs. Webster remained unbeaten on 46 off 66 balls.
Prasidh Krishna was the most successful bowler for India A in the second innings, picking up two wickets. Mukesh Kumar (1 for 40) and Kotian (1 for 62) chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Brief Scores:
India A: 161 and 229 all out in 77.5 overs (Dhruv Jurel 68, Tanush Kotian 44; Corey Rocchiccioli 4/74, Beau Webster 3/49, Nathan McAndrew 2/53).
Australia A 1st innings: 223 and 169 for 4 in 47.5 overs (Sam Kontas 73 not out, Beau Webster 46 not out; Prasidh Krishna 2/37).
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