Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the second day of the second practice match between India and Australia A at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney.
India 291/4 after 75 overs: Vihari is nearing its century and India could declare it at any time.
India 233/3 after 66 overs: Vihari and Rahane are in full control and the captain of India with a punch to the back has shown his class. India dominating at the moment with an advantage of over 300.
India 224/3 after 63 overs: The last session has started and both Vihari and Rahane will aim to further consolidate India’s position. Statement, not on target, for now.
Cena – India 223/3 after 61 overs (Hanuma Vihari 57, 113b, 8 * 4, Ajinkya Rahane 26, 51b, 5 * 4); leads 308 races
India 208/3 after 55 overs: Hanuma Vihari reaches his half century and this is a good hitting show from the middle order hitter. Ajinkya Rahane is doing very well.
India 178/3 after 47 Overs: Rahane goes off the mark with a cap to cover the sweeper. Vihari keeps working. How long will it be before India considers a declaration? They will do it? Meanwhile, India’s lead has gone from 250 to 264.
India 161/3 after 42 overs: Mayank Agarwal plays a false shot and goes for 61. However, this was a sublime shot before the first test and it was impressive. Top blow. Ajinkya Rahane joins Vihari.
India 155/2 after 40 overs: Both hitters have been very patient but confident at the same time. The pink ball is making a but and the referee has denied a couple of screams from LBW. The lead is over 240.
India 138/2 after 33 overs: Half a century of quality from Mayank Agarwal and he’s shown some good intentions, he spent time in between and worked hard for his half century, while playing some exquisite shots.
India 123/2 after 31 overs: Agarwal and Vihari are building a partnership and this has been an entry controlled by Agarwal as he approaches his half century.
Tea Break: India 2/111 – lead by 197 runs
India 108/2 after 25 overs: Shubman Gill leaves when Swepson attacks to break the stands. Gill is betting on a well-made 65 of 78 balls and has presented a real case for himself for the first test. Hanuma Vihari joins Mayank Agarwal.
India 92/1 after 20 overs: Both Gill and Mayank continue to score runs and this has been disciplined hitting by both hitters. Good signs before the first test.
India 77/1 after 16 overs: Excellent half a century from Gill and this has been a superb coup. He had a start in the first inning but failed to convert. However, this time he came out with a much more positive intention and made some lovely shots. India’s lead crosses the 150-run mark.
India 55/1 after 12 overs: Shubman Gill is playing some beautiful shots and has moved to 37 of 39 balls and looks solid. Mayank looks good too and is playing the rough terrain. He’s hitting 12 of 28 balls.
India 1/25 after 6 overs: Agarwal and Gill have stabilized the ship after the early loss of Prithvi Shaw. Both hitters are putting the ball down well and playing cautiously, occasionally hitting the edge.
India 5/1 after 2 overs: Bad start from India as Prithvi Shaw once again fails to show his hitting skills by falling early on the first switch. Absolute footless movement and Shaw hits directly at the fielder’s hands at the point of coverage. Shubman Gill joins Mayank Agarwal.
Day 1 Stumps: India beat Australia A by 108; leads by 86 races.
Indian pacemaker Shardul Thakur and T. Natarajan, together with offspinner Washington Sundar, have been retained as reserve bowlers for the India Test series in Australia, effective December 17.
Bumrah fifty, Shami, Saini give Indians an advantage over Australia A
READ | Pat Cummins expects tests to be hotter than ODI, T20I
Except for the trio, all the other members of the limited stage who did not make the cut returned to India on Friday.
READ | IND vs AUS A Practice Game 2 Highlights: Bumrah, Pacemakers Shine As India Defeat Australia-A 108; leads by 86 races
Natarajan, the left arm pacemaker who excelled in the T20I series, was supposed to always stay as a net thrower, Thakur was asked to stay once Ishant Sharma was ruled out of the series.
READ | Playing well in partnerships will be key against India’s batting, says Starc
Washington would be primarily useful as a net thrower with his mysterious spinners.
Squads
India: Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Navdehamep Simi, Navdehamep Si Saini, Rishabh Pant (week), Wriddhiman Saha (week).
Australia A: Sean Abbott, Joe Burns, Alex Carey (c, wk.), Harry Conway, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Nic Maddinson, Ben McDermott, Mark Steketee, Will Sutherland, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth.
Starts the match: 9 a. M. IST.
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