Kushagra century and Mulani four put India A in command at Siechem Cricket Stadium

Kumar Kushagra scored a century and Shams Mulani took four wickets as Australia A were dismissed for 171 on the second day of the first unofficial Test between India A and Australia A at the Siechem Cricket Stadium in Puducherry on Wednesday. India A had earlier posted 334, leaving Australia A 163 runs adrift when play ended.

India A’s 334 came in 117.3 overs with Sai Sudharsan contributing 57, Kumar Kushagra 113 and Tanush Kotian 69; Australia’s Corey Rocchiccioli returned figures of 4/95 during that innings. The report lists Kushagra as 113 (240b, 12x4) and also notes he completed his seventh first-class hundred "off 202 balls" after taking almost an hour to reach the mark, on a pitch described as rapidly deteriorating.

Australia A, bowled out for 171 in 55.3 overs, received a 46 from Jason Sangha off 64 balls (5x4, 1x6) after he walked in with the score at 37 for three. Sangha began his counterattack after tea with consecutive sweeps off Mulani and later rode the bounce from Tushar Deshpande and punched the pacer through point twice before losing his wicket attempting a reverse sweep.

Shams Mulani finished with figures of 4/67 as India A’s bowling effort pulled Australia A back after their brief recovery; Liam Scott scored 14 off Tanush Kotian in three deliveries but was dismissed when Mulani floated a delivery full, got it to turn and had Scott caught behind. Two overs after Scott’s dismissal Sangha threw his wicket away with the reverse sweep.

India A’s quicks had earlier exposed Australia A’s top and middle order, which the report says "boasted of five capped players," leaving them vulnerable to lateral movement; Sam Konstas negotiated the early period but was trapped lbw by Tushar Deshpande for 25. The spinners dominated the final session, while the seamers’ early success had already placed Australia A on the back foot.

A dominant bowling effort from India A brings Day 2 to a close as Australia A are bowled out. 💥#CAP#CricketAssociationofPondicherry#PondicherryCricket#INDvsAUSpic.twitter.com/3Q2l3Hp3G6

The official scoreline read: India-A 334 in 117.3 overs (Sai Sudharsan 57, Kumar Kushagra 113, Tanush Kotian 69, Corey Rocchiccioli 4/95) vs. Australia-A 171 in 55.3 overs (Jason Sangha 46, Shams Mulani 4/67); Australia A finished 163 runs short of India A when they were dismissed and play closed on Day 2 of the first 'Test.'