The first unofficial Test between India A and Australia A ended in an exciting draw at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, with rain washing out the final day’s play. Both teams put on strong batting performances, with India A declaring at 531/7, thanks to centuries from Dhruv Jurel (140) and Devdutt Padikkal (150). Australia A had earlier declared their innings at 532.
Day 4 Washed Out
India A started Day 4 at 403/4, trailing Australia A by 129 runs after the visitors posted 532 in their first innings. Jurel, who was unbeaten on 113 overnight, added just 27 more runs before getting dismissed. Padikkal, however, continued his excellent performance, bringing up his century off 198 balls, marking a strong comeback to red-ball cricket.
Partnership Between Jurel and Padikkal Shines
The partnership between Jurel and Padikkal, which began when India A was struggling at 222/4, grew to more than 200 runs, stabilizing the Indian innings. Their contributions were key in India A’s recovery, with Jurel finishing on 140 and Padikkal on 150. After both were dismissed, India A declared their innings at 531/7, adding just 11 runs after their departure.
Australia A’s Reply
Australia A ended Day 4 at 56/0, with Sam Konstas (27) and Campbell Kellaway (24) unbeaten. Earlier, on Day 3, Jurel secured his second first-class century, while Devdutt Padikkal, B Sai Sudharsan, and N Jagadeesan all made significant contributions, helping India A reach 403/4 by the close of play.
Batsmen Dominate the Four-Day Match
The match saw an impressive display of batting, with Australia A declaring their first innings at 532 after opting to bat first. India A responded strongly with a declaration at 531/7, driven by centuries from Jurel and Padikkal, resulting in an exciting draw.
Second Unofficial Test Awaits
The second unofficial Test of the series between India A and Australia A will be played in Lucknow, starting on September 23. With both teams showing strong performances, the upcoming match promises to be another thrilling encounter.
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