The India A lower-order collapsed in dramatic fashion as they were bowled out for 230 on day one of the first unofficial Test against Australia A at Allan Border Field, Brisbane. Australia A, in reply, were 25/0 at the end of day’s play.
In a match contested with the pink ball, India A captain Naman Ojha won the toss and elected to first bat. Everything was going according to plan for the Indians when openers Akhil Herwadkar and Faiz Fazal were in the middle. The duo put on a 74-run partnership for the first wicket before Herwadkar was caught behind for 34.
Fazal soon followed his opening partner to the pavilion, falling just two runs short of his half-century. Despite those two wickets, everything looked to be in the tourists’ control when Manish Pandey was in the middle. The Karnataka batsman carried on his good form from the one-day series as he scored 77 from just 76 deliveries.
Manish Pandey looked a class above his fellow India A top-order batsmen today. Aggressive and assured, he's certainly an emerging batsman
— Tristan Lavalette (@stumped4aduck) September 8, 2016
The problems for India started when Pandey was dismissed by Chadd Sayers. From 188/3, the Indians collapsed to 230 all out in no time, losing the final seven wickets for just 42 runs.
The pick of the bowlers for the hosts was leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson, who ended with figures of 4/78. David Moody, Sayers and Daniel Worrall were also among the wickets with three, two and one scalps to their names respectively.
Australia opening batsmen Cameron Bancroft and Joe Burns saw out the rest of the day as they trail India A’s total by 205 runs with all 10 wickets in hand.
BRIEF SCORES
India A 230 all out (Pandey 77, Swepson 4/78) lead Australia A 25/0 (Burns 12*) by 205 runs.
