Ind A vs Aus A 1st unofficial Test: Naman Ojha smashes unbeaten double ton
30-year-old wicket-keeper batsman from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, Naman Ojha scored a brilliant double century against Australia A today in Brisbane, giving India A a major boost on Day 2. Ojha brought up his quickfire double hundred on the last ball before lunch with his 8th six of the innings, off just 227 deliveries.
India, resuming from its overnight score of 304/6, declared at 475/9, with Ojha remaining unbeaten on 219 off 250 balls, an innings studded with 29 fours and 8 sixes.
The right-handed Ojha was unbeaten on 82 on the first day to help India get past 300, surviving a barriage of short balls from Australian pacers who had the visitors on the back foot at 43 for 3.
It was Manoj Tiwary and Jiwanjot Singh who stedied the ship on Day 1 with a 134-run 4th wicket stand before Jiwanjot Singh fell. In the last session, Ojha played positive cricket, looking for scoring oppourtunities in a 50 run partnership at quick time with Dhawal Kulkarni after Karun Nair fell.
The Australian pacers stuck to their plan of bowling short to the middle order by the end of the first day and the 30-year-old was up to the challenge put forward by the likes of Ben Cutting, Moises Henriques, MItchell Marsh and Chadd Sayers by scoring at a strike of rate of 87.60 after going thorought the tough times. James Faulkner complimented his bowlers nicely presenting them with attacking fields, but Ojha was ready for the challenge.
Just before bringing up his double, Ojha was struck on the chest by a rising delivery, but showed brilliant application by soon recovering and hitting the six to bring up his 200 off the front foot to a similar short one.
India declared in the second session of Day 2, and when bad light brought an early end to the day, Australians were tottering at 126 for 6.