Mohini Yadav
Ajit Mohan Yadav
Australia A beat India A by 69 runs in the second unofficial ODI at the Cricket Association Puducherry Siechem Ground on Friday, 9 October, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Australia A made 275 all out in 49.5 overs before India A were bowled out for 206 in 45.2 overs.
Konstas and Philippe build the innings
Australia A chose to bat and made the most of a strong start. Mitchell Owen struck 17 from Arshad Khan’s first over and raced to 25 from 12 balls, but Yash Thakur removed him before the opening burst could become a major score.
Sam Konstas and Josh Philippe then gave the innings its shape. Their second-wicket stand added 101, taking Australia A through the difficult middle phase without allowing the scoring rate to stall. Philippe reached his fifty from 53 balls and went on to make 58. Konstas stayed longer, making 67 from 88 balls before edging a pull to the wicketkeeper.
Australia A were 207 for 3 in the 37th over and appeared set for more than 300. India A found a way back late, however, as wickets fell in a steady sequence. Nathan McSweeney made 32 and Lachlan Shaw 25, but the visitors were all out for 275 with one ball left in the 50th over.
India A lose three wickets early
The chase needed a calm beginning, but India A lost Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad inside the Powerplay. Sudharsan was dismissed by a short ball from Riley Meredith, while Padikkal fell at third man. Gaikwad was caught in the same area after Spencer Johnson produced a fine effort in the field.
That left Rajat Patidar trying to rebuild while the target remained within reach. He first added 29 from 56 balls and later put on 46 with Nishant Sindhu for the fifth wicket. Patidar reached his second fifty of the series and finished as India A’s top scorer with 67.
Johnson ended the resistance when Patidar picked out deep mid-wicket against another short ball. From 134 for 6, India A slipped away quickly. Anukul Roy’s unbeaten 34, including two fours and two sixes, could not change the result, and Yash Thakur was the last man out for 6.
Australia A’s short-ball plan pays off
The decisive contrast was not only the totals but how the pace attack used the surface. The match report described the wicket as slowing as the ball softened, making it harder for batters to force the pace. Australia A’s quicks repeatedly used the short ball, varied their spells and kept India A’s top order from settling.
Johnson finished with 3 for 35 and was named Player of the Match. His dismissal of Patidar broke the most important partnership in the chase. Meredith also took 2 for 31, while the fielding support around the fast bowlers kept pressure on India A after the early breakthroughs.
Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney said after the match that his side’s bowlers had been excellent, particularly in their use of the short ball. India A captain Gaikwad also credited the visitors for adjusting well to the conditions and hitting their lengths consistently.
India A’s bowlers fight back late
India A’s attack did enough to prevent the visitors from reaching the larger total that seemed possible after 37 overs. Arshad Khan found reverse swing and returned 3 for 56, while Thakur used cutters effectively for 2 for 46. Their late wickets gave India A a target that demanded a disciplined chase rather than an extraordinary one.
The first match of the series had also gone Australia A’s way, and this second victory confirms the visitors as series winners with one match still to play. India A will have to address the Powerplay collapse first: losing three wickets before the fielding restrictions ended left Patidar and the middle order facing a recovery job from the start.
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Sources: Cricbuzz: India A vs Australia A, 2nd unofficial ODI live score · Cricbuzz: Konstas, Philippe set up Australia A's series win against India A
This piece was written by the FairPlay Editorial Desk with AI assistance, using the published sources above. It was reviewed by Mohini Yadav and Ajit Mohan Yadav of the FairPlay editorial team before publication. To report an error, see our Editorial Policy.
