India A win after Richardson blitz

A new-ball blitz from paceman Jhye Richardson was in vain as India A shook off a slow start to record a five-wicket win over Australia A in Bengaluru.

Defending just 151 after the visitors were rolled inside 32 overs, Richardson reduced India A to 3-21 to give his side a sniff of an upset.

But after captain Shreyas Iyer was dismissed cheaply by left-arm spinner Ashton Agar to make the score 4-29 in the 14th over, Ambati Rayudu (62no) and Krunal Pandya (49) put on a match-winning stand of 109 to deliver India A a first-up win in the one-day quadrangular series.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Australia A got off to flyer through openers Usman Khawaja and D’Arcy Short to be 0-26 after three overs.

But Short was the first to go and sparked of a collapse of 6-52.

Khawaja hit two fours in his 13 before he was out to 20-year-old left-armer Khaleel Ahmed.  

Off-spinner Krishnappa Gowtham (3-31) removed Australia A’s middle order of Travis Head (bowled for 28), Peter Handscomb (stumped for two) and Matt Renshaw (lbw for seven).

Agar top-scored for the tourists – his 34 from 40 balls featured five boundaries – and with Queensland allrounder Michael Neser (16) lifted the score into three figures, before leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson was the last man out after the total ticked past 150.

Opening bowler Mohammed Siraj was India A’s most potent yet expensive bowler, whose 10 overs produced four wickets – including Short and wicketkeeper Alex Carey (seven) – while conceding 68 runs.

Play resumed after a quick break and before both teams could enjoy lunch, Richardson had sent three India A batsmen back to the pavilion.

The right-armer had Ravikumar Samarth caught by a diving Neser at mid-wicket and castled gloveman Sanju Samson first ball to put the Australians right in the contest.

Richardson then dismissed Suryakumar Yadav, caught at third man, to have three scalps before the teams walked off for the match interval.

Agar’s strike after the break brought together Rayudu and Pandya, who combined to hit nine fours and a six and weather the Australian fightback.

Short picked up the wicket of Pandya with victory in sight, before a cameo by Nitish Rana – a four-ball stay that included a six and a four – iced the match.

Australia A’s next game is against South Africa A again at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, before playing India B two days later at Alur.

Australia A Tour of India

Australia A one-day squad: Travis Head (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Joel Paris, Matthew Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitch Swepson, Chris Tremain, Jack Wildermuth

Schedule

One-day fixtures

17 August v India A: Match abandoned

19 August v South Africa A: Match abandoned

21 August v India B: Match abandoned

23 August v India A - lost by five wickets

25 August v South Africa A

27 August v India B

29 August - Quad-Series Final

Australia A four-day squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Michael Neser, Joel Paris, Kurtis Patterson, Matthew Renshaw, Mitch Swepson, Chris Tremain

Four-day fixtures in Vizag

2-5 September v India A

8-11 September v India A