Australia A v India A: Naman Ojha and Ambati Rayudu see off Aussie threat as first unofficial Test ends in draw
The 1st unofficial Test match of the series between Australia A and India A at Allan Border Field, Brisbane, has ended in a draw. Naman Ojha and Ambati Rayudu put together an unbroken partnership of 199, scoring a century each in the 2nd innings, to take India to safety at 285/5 after they were in a precarious position at 86/5 in the second innings at one stage.
Australia A started off the 4th and final day’s play in the ascendency, resuming on the overnight score of 522/9 with a lead of 47 in the 1st innings. India A had declared in the 1st innings on 475/9, which was a phenomenal effort in itself, but the Australians outdid their counterparts, courtesy of the heroics of the batting duo – Mitchell Marsh and Sam Whiteman – who scored 211 and 174 runs respectively
The home team’s overnight batsmen Cameron Boyce and Chadd Sayers came out to bat on day 4 with the intention of adding quick runs, to increase the lead as much as possible. But they managed to further their overnight lead of 47 by just 12 runs, as they were bowled out for 534 with Boyce being the last wicket to fall. For India, Jasprit Bumrah was by far the pick of the bowlers ending with figures of 40.1-8-132-5.
With both teams having scored big in the 1st innings, the match was going to peter out to a dull draw. The Australians, though, seemed to have other ideas as they came out to bowl with aggressive intent in the hope of rattling the Indians and securing an unlikely victory.
Visitors recover despite early blows:
The visitors had dominated for most of the match, but their shoulders had started to stoop on day 3 when Marsh and Whiteman put on the colossal partnership of 371 for the 7th wicket. When India’s turn came to bat in the 2nd innings, their morale seemed pretty low, which didn’t get any better when Robin Uthappa was dismissed for 15 off the bowling of Ben Cutting to a sensational catch by the Australian wicket-keeper Whiteman.
Australia A, sensing an opportunity of at least getting a psychological edge over the Indians if not a victory, bowled superbly as a whole and dismissed the rest of the top-order batsmen in quick succession, leaving India at 86/5. Naman, who was the star of the 1st innings scoring a brutal 250-ball 219, was then joined by Rayudu at the crease. Ojha and Rayudu showed maturity and batted calmly to steer India away from the tough situation, thereby lending some assurance to the Indian dressing room.
Towards the end of the day’s play, with a draw now being a foregone conclusion, the Australian bowlers were going through the motions, while the Indian team were waiting for the 6th-wicket pair to complete their centuries. As soon as they reached their landmarks, the umpires signalled the close of play.
The 2nd and final Test of the series between the two teams starts on July 13.