Bumrah also scored an unbeaten 55 of 57 balls to rescue the Indians.
Australia A 108 (Saini 3-19, Shami 3-29) trail Indians 194 (Bumrah 55 *) for 86 runs
Joe Burns’ horrific start to the season continued with a second ball against the pink ball at SCG to raise further questions about whether he can be selected for the opening test in Adelaide.
It was another day that provided more problems than answers for the Australians, despite reducing the Indians to 123 from 9, with off-roader Cameron Green forced out of the game with a concussion after a blow to the head in his follow-up. In one of the most unlikely stories, his replacement Patrick Rowe made his first-class debut against the skill of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.
Facing his second ball from Bumrah, who had previously scored with a top fifty in first class, Burns had an advantage against a pitch just off the stump to leave him with a 61-run count in eight innings this season. He also made back-to-back ducks against the Indians in the space of four days after he went scoreless in the second inning at Drummoyne Oval.
He’s likely to get one more inning in this match, but now he faces the prospect of needing one of the selectors’ greatest displays of faith if he wants to play the Test day and night.
Burns wasn’t alone in his batting match, however, as India’s rapids made life very difficult under the lights as Australia A packed for 108, losing all ten wickets in the final session. Marcus Harris, who now looks likely to appear in the first test, formed up nicely before dodging Shami from around the wicket and in the same over Ben McDermott was given no-chance lbw.
Nic Maddinson was brilliantly caught with a high-edged jerk from Wriddhiman Saha, in the outfield of this game, as he ran back from straight leg and had the opportunity over his shoulder. The fifth duck of the day was picked up by Sean Abbott, although there was little he could do about the pearl he received from Shami, who reinforced the threat it will pose in Adelaide during an 11-plus spell broken by tea and a brief rain delay.
The day ended in strange circumstances with Harry Conway fleeing shortly after receiving a blow to the helmet that seemed to enrage and disconcert him. He was briefly checked in the field and didn’t look entirely comfortable as he drove away.
In the first half of the day, it was the Indians who seemed to have the most worries, as their batting lineup was dismantled by Australia’s attack after a lighthearted start that saw them rush almost eight and more in the first 10 overs. .
Mayank Agarwal edged out Abbott to slide in the third over, but Prithvi Shaw flayed 40 of 29 balls with a series of thunderous limits before receiving a fine delivery from Will Sutherland, who hit him.
Shubman Gill and Hanuma Vihari brought the score to 102 of 2 with the first approach interval only for a collapse of 7 of 21 to derail the entrances. The slippage started when Vihari put his arms around Jack Wildermuth’s shoulder and saw his stump cut off.
Gill was then eliminated by a tremendous delivery from Green who climbed outside to take the lead and Wildermuth, who only joined the team Thursday after Moises Henriques hamstring injury, capped off a beautiful morning eliminating. to Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant for single digit scores. Five overs later and without adding to the total, Saha approached the third slip on a 22-ball stay.
However, just as a quick inning conclusion was expected, the unlikely pairing of Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj flayed a bottom position of 71 in 13.2 overs. It was a mix of edges and authentic takes and rarely not entertaining.
Bumrah, who had a previous highest first-class score of 16, regained his half century with a high jerk that was stopped above the six limit. When the stands finally ended, Bumrah received an honor guard in the locker room, though India hopes her hitting won’t be necessary next week.
Andrew McGlashan is deputy editor of ESPNcricinfo
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