Mulani four-for puts India A in command
Australia A were bowled out for 171 on Day 2, conceding a 163-run lead
Shams Mulani returned figures of 4 for 67 as Australia A were bundled out for 171, handing India A a 163-run lead in the first innings, by stumps on Day 2. Tushar Deshpande and Tanush Kotian contributed with a brace each as the visitors struggled to put up a strong show with the bat after bowling out India A for 334 earlier on Wednesday (September 23).
Resuming the second day's play on 257 for 5, the hosts lost overnight half-centurion, Kotian, early in the day, becoming Brendon Doggett's only victim of the innings. Mulani, Anshul Kamboj and Deshpande made useful contributions lower down the order, and ensured there was ample time for Kumar Kushagra, who had retired hurt on the opening day, to bring up his century.
They could, however, add only 76 runs for the last four wickets. Todd Murphy dismissed two of the lower order batters to return three scalps from the innings.
However, Australia A's start with the bat was underwhelming. After a watchful and cautious half an hour, opener Campbell Kellaway was trapped legbefore by Anshul Kamboj for 2. Nathan McSweepy (cleaned up by Praful Hinge) and Peter Handscomb (bowled by Mulani) also departed cheaply. Sam Konstas, who was the only batter to have managed a reasonable start, was trapped legbefore by Deshpande soon and Australia A were reduced to 40 for 4.
Jason Sangha provided a brief fightback in the company of Josh Phillippe and Liam Scott, adding 45 and 41 runs for the fifth and sixth wicket respetcively. However, Mulani ripped through the lower order as the visitors lost their last five wickets for only five runs.
Brief scores: India A 334 (Kumar Kushagra 113, Tanush Kotian 69; Corey Rocchiccioli 4-95) vs Australia A 171 (Jason Sangha 46; Shams Mulani 4-67, Tushar Deshpande 2-32) by 163 runs.
