Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, announced his return after a long injury lay-off, with a five-wicket haul that restricted Australia A to 350/9 on Day 1 of the second unofficial Test against India at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium on Tuesday. Suthar, who hasn’t featured in any competitive fixture since Rajasthan’s Ranji fixture against Andhra in January last week, was at his elements in the 28 overs he sent down after India A chose to field first after winning the toss.
Unlike the first match last week where Australia A batsmen got off to a flying start, they were rocked early this time. Mohammed Siraj, part of the India Test squad, and featuring in this fixture as preparation for the upcoming two Tests against West Indies, and Prasidh Krishna had a good outing in the middle. Though they took only a wicket each, they now have good amount of overs behind them. Prasidh, who was taken apart in the first match, was economical going at 4.50 runs per over in the 14 overs he sent which had three maidens. He struck the first blow, removing Campbell Kellaway for 9. Sam Konstas, the other opener who provided a blazing start last week, had to work hard for his runs as his 49 came of 91 deliveries before edging Siraj to wicketkeeper N Jagadeesan, who took over the big gloves from India A skipper Dhruv Jurel after 27 overs.
Once the two pacers provided with the breakthroughs, it was Suthar who dictated the pace of the game. The highly-rated spinner, who is yet to be exposed to the T20s on a frequent basis, provided control for India A, which Tanush Kotian and Harsh Dubey couldn’t in the first match.
The 23-year-old first up castled Oliver Peake, who looked all intent in his 39-ball stay where he scored 29 with 6 boundaries. And in his very next over, Suthar had Cooper Connolly edge to Jagadeesan to leave Australia at 150/4. Thereafter, Australia recovered a bit with their captain Nathan McSweeney bringing up his first half-century of the tour. And with wicketkeeper Josh Philippe looking in good nick, scoring a 33-ball 39, Australia seemed to wrestle back the initiative before Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar broke the 52-run stand by removing McSweeney for 74. And 14 deliveries later, Suthar caught and bowled Philippe as Australia slid to 214/6.
Just as India seemed to have the proceedings in control, all-rounder Jack Edwards (88) launched a counter-attack. In a 78-ball stay that was ended by Brar, Edwards scored freely, hitting as many as 11 boundaries and a six to throw India A plans to the bin. Even though Edwards was going hammer and tongs at one end, Suthar kept chipping away at the other end, ensuring Edwards didn’t have partners to keep going. Will Sutherland and Corey Rocchiccioli were the other batsmen he dismissed during his economical outing.
Apart from Siraj, opening batsman KL Rahul and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy who were part of the England tour, are also turning out for India A at Lucknow. The trio were added to the squad as preparation for the Tests against West Indies that begins on October 2 in Ahmedabad.
Brief scores: Australia A 350/9 (Jack Edwards 88, Nathan McSweeney 74; Manav Suthar 5/93) vs India A.
The postSpinner Manav Suthar sparkles with five-for against Australia A | Cricket News appeared first on Indian Express
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