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Harsh Dubey took 3 wickets as India A fought back after Sam Konstas scored 109 for Australia A, who finished day one at 337/5 in the unofficial Test at Ekana Stadium.
Harsh Dubey took three wickets to spearhead India A’s comeback after young opener Sam Konstas dominated early on with a brisk 109, steering Australia A to 337/5 on the first day of their opening unofficial Test on Tuesday.
Konstas, who had a fiery Test debut against India last Australian summer, struck 10 fours and three sixes in his century, capitalising on favourable conditions until Ranji Trophy record holder Dubey dismissed him.
India A and their Australian counterparts will play two four-day unofficial Tests here before moving to Kanpur for a three-match one-day series.
The 19-year-old Konstas added 198 runs for the opening stand with Campbell Kellaway (88), putting the India A bowlers, including Test pacer Prasidh Krishna, under pressure at the Ekana Stadium.
Until their partnership was broken, Konstas and Kellaway, who hit 10 fours and two sixes, resisted the India A bowlers’ challenge, accumulating nearly 200 runs in 37.1 overs.
Their partnership ended when Kellaway was caught by Tanush Kotian off Gurnoor Brar, but Konstas certainly made a strong impression on this tour, as his competitor for the Australia opening slot, Nathan McSweeney, fell soon after at No. 3.
Dubey had the right-handed McSweeney trapped leg-before for one, giving India A their second breakthrough. The Shreyas Iyer-led side struck twice more to gain the upper hand in the middle overs.
Konstas was next to go, falling to Dubey, while Khaleel Ahmed pinned Oliver Peake in front of the stumps, leaving Australia in a precarious position at 224/4.
However, this was when one-Test old Cooper Connolly and Liam Scott joined forces to halt the fall of wickets, putting on 109 runs for the fifth wicket.
Dubey again provided India A with a crucial breakthrough, ending the fifth-wicket stand when he had Connolly caught by Devdutt Padikkal for 70 off 84 balls, which included 12 fours and a six.
For India A, Dubey was the standout bowler, while Gurnoor and Khaleel claimed one wicket each. Prasidh remained wicketless, conceding 47 runs in his 11 overs.
Brief scores:
Australia A 337/5 in 73 overs (Sam Konstas 109, Campbell Kellaway 88, Cooper Connolly 70, Liam Scott 47 not out; Harsh Dubey 3/88, Khalil Ahmed 1/46, Gurnoor Brar 1/47) vs India A.
(With inputs from PTI)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More
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