India A’s top-order woes continued to haunt them as Australia A registered a 69-run victory in the second one-day match on Friday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.Josh Philippe and Sam Konstas struck aggressive half-centuries to lay the foundation for Australia A’s total of 275, before pacer Spencer Johnson dismantled India A’s batting effort with three crucial wickets. Despite Rajat Patidar’s fighting 67, the hosts were bowled out for 206 in 45.2 overs.The defeat will be particularly disappointing for India A after another collective failure from top-order batters Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who once again failed to provide a solid start. Their early dismissals left the hosts struggling at 30 for three in the ninth over while chasing a target that was within reach.
Philippe, Konstas lay the foundation
After being put under pressure at regular intervals, Australia A finished with 275 all out in 49.5 overs, with Philippe and Konstas providing the backbone of the innings through a 101-run partnership for the second wicket.Philippe, who had fallen cheaply in the opening match, made amends with a well-paced 58 off 58 balls. The 29-year-old looked fluent against the spinners, creaming Nishant Sindhu for consecutive boundaries, including a delightful inside-out shot through extra-cover.He brought up his half-century off 53 deliveries by pulling pacer Yash Thakur for four.At the other end, Konstas played a comparatively measured knock, reaching his fifty off 69 balls after an early six off Arshad Khan. The Australian opener eventually scored 67 off 88 deliveries, giving his side a strong platform.India A, however, managed to prevent the partnership from becoming more damaging, with Philippe falling to Sindhu and Konstas dismissed by Arshad. From 168 for three in 30 overs, Australia A added 107 runs in the final 20 overs while losing their remaining seven wickets.Arshad was the pick of the Indian bowlers, finishing with three wickets for 56 runs.
Top-order collapse leaves Patidar with too much to do
India A’s chase unravelled almost immediately as Padikkal departed for one, Gaikwad managed just 12 and Sudharsan was dismissed for 13. Their failures left the home side in deep trouble before the innings could settle.With an inexperienced line-up following, the responsibility fell on Patidar to keep the chase alive. The middle-order batter responded with a determined 67 off 81 balls, but found little sustained support from his partners.The biggest partnership of India A’s innings was a 51-run stand for the fifth wicket between Patidar and Sindhu. Sindhu’s contribution helped the hosts recover briefly, but Australia A continued to strike at key moments.Johnson proved particularly effective, removing Padikkal, Suryansh Shedge and, crucially, Patidar. Once the latter departed, India A’s hopes of mounting a comeback faded, and the hosts were eventually bowled out for 206 in 45.2 overs.Anukul Roy remained unbeaten on 34, but his effort came too late to change the outcome.The 69-run victory handed Australia A the series with one match still to play, while India A will need a much-improved showing from their top order to avoid a clean sweep.
- Brief scores: Australia A 275 all out in 49.5 overs (Josh Philippe 58, Sam Konstas 67; Arshad Khan 3/56) beat India A 206 all out in 45.2 overs (Rajat Patidar 67, Anukul Roy 34 not out; Spencer Johnson 3/35) by 69 runs.
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