Manav Suthar stole the spotlight with a brilliant five-wicket haul as India A and Australia A clashed in the opening day of their second four-day match in Lucknow. While Australia A’s Nathan McSweeney and Jack Edwards showcased their batting prowess with half-centuries, Suthar’s left-arm spin kept India A firmly in contention on a mixed-soil pitch.
Leadership Shuffle and Team Updates
With Shreyas Iyer withdrawing from the series, Dhruv Jurel stepped in as India A’s captain, sharing wicketkeeping duties with N Jagadeesan. Both keepers are expected to be considered for India’s squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against West Indies starting October 2.
All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, returning from a knee injury sustained during the England tour, bowled eight overs but remained wicketless on the opening day.
Australia A Batting Highlights
Opening batsman Sam Konstas, who scored a century in the first four-day match, was held to 49 off 91 balls by India A’s Mohammed Siraj, who induced an outside edge to Jurel behind the stumps. Konstas and McSweeney had earlier put together a solid 86-run partnership, navigating the early Indian attack with patience.
Australia A skipper McSweeney scored a patient 74, while Jack Edwards counterattacked with 88 off 78 balls, hitting 11 boundaries and a six. Their efforts propelled Australia A to 350/9 by stumps, with the last-wicket pair of Todd Murphy and Henry Thornton resisting India A’s bowlers in the closing overs.
Suthar’s Spin Magic
The star of the day, Manav Suthar, was exceptional with his left-arm spin, finishing with 5/93. Suthar’s consistency and clever variations dismantled Australia A’s middle order. He removed Oliver Peake (29) and Cooper Connolly (0) in successive overs, triggering a collapse that kept India A within striking distance.
Suthar’s economy rate of 3.32 stood out, especially compared to India’s pacers, all of whom conceded over four runs per over.
- Early Partnerships: McSweeney and Konstas set the tone with steady batting in the morning session, reaching 77/1 in 27 overs.
- Middle-Order Collapse: Suthar’s spin claimed crucial wickets, including Connolly and McSweeney, reducing Australia A to 150/4 at one point.
- Counterattack: Edwards and Philippe accelerated the scoring with aggressive strokeplay, keeping India A on its toes.
- Final Stand: Todd Murphy and Henry Thornton survived the remaining overs, taking the score to 350/9.
Despite Australia A’s individual brilliance, India A found hope in Suthar’s controlled bowling display. The spinner’s performance highlights the value of strategic spin bowling on subcontinental pitches. With the ongoing form of Jurel and Jagadeesan behind the stumps and pacers like Siraj and Gurnoor Brar supporting, India A will look to capitalize on early wickets in the next session.
The match promises more action in the coming days as both teams vie for dominance in this four-day series, offering glimpses into potential squad selections for India’s upcoming international commitments.