Sam Harper’s defiant century leads Australia A fightback against India A

Sam Harper was proactive from the outset, during his unbeaten 101 off 153 balls, in the opening day of the second unofficial Test.

Updated : Sep 29, 2026 18:45 IST , Puducherry - 3 MINS READ

Australia A’s Sam Harper struck 10 boundaries during his unbeaten knock. | Photo Credit: Cricket Association of Pondicherry

Sam Harper gave no inkling he was on Australia-A debut, slammed a ton in a middle-order riposte, and made sure his team batted out the opening day of the second unofficial Test at the Siechem Cricket Stadium in Puducherry on Tuesday.

His unbeaten 153-ball 101 (7x4, 3x6) lasted through an 84-run sixth-wicket stand with Liam Scott, and an 89-run seventh-wicket stand with Todd Murphy, which took Australia-A to 282 for seven at stumps.

Harper was proactive from the outset, going after Tanush Kotian with a swept boundary and a hoist over mid-off. His first maximum came off part-timer Shaik Rasheed, against whom he rocked back for a pummel beyond mid-wicket.

Harper and Murphy endured an 87-ball spell without a boundary in the final session, but on the other side came the highlight of Harper’s innings. He pranced out of his crease, first off Kotian and then Mulani, to chip them down the ground for two sixes.

Murphy took inspiration from Harper and charged down to Kotian for a six over long-on, following it up with a hoick through midwicket.

India-A waited four overs to take the second new ball, a delay it would be lamenting given Anshul Kamboj breached Murphy’s gate to castle him just five balls in. Harper nearly fell victim to the new ball, but saw his edge off Tushar Deshpande spray inches past gully and get him to a century in just 146 balls.

Though Harper was the lead act through the day, Australia-A’s recovery started in the first session with Nathan McSweeney (34, 67b, 2x4) and Jason Sangha (46, 75b, 6x4, 1x6).

Shams Mulani, right, celebrates dismissing Nathan McSweeney (not in picture). | Photo Credit: Cricket Association of Pondicherry

McSweeney gave a glimpse of his touted Test cricket resolve and dropped anchor in the 81-run partnership for the fourth wicket. This was the perfect foil for Sangha’s aggression to lean on after Australia-A was reeling at 16 for three.

Sangha picked the first boundary of the morning, punching Nachiket Bhute past mid-off. But it was his fluency against the tweakers that made his stay imposing. He paddle-swept Mulani before parking a hit into the sight-screen.

But Mulani, who also bowled a baffling 14 no balls through the day, nabbed them in successive overs after lunch, which set the stage for Harper to shine. Sangha was caught behind while McSweeney could not clear mid-on.

In the morning session, Australia-A took attritional means to negotiate the early movement but only got itself the double whammy of neither putting on runs nor holding onto their wickets.

Kamboj and Deshpande held the revamped opening pair of Sam Konstas and Josh Philippe on a leash, and the first and second change bowlers reaped the rewards.

Nachiket Bhute drew an edge from Philippe as he went poking at a regulation length ball outside off. Caught in two minds against Bhute, Peter Handscomb was too late in shouldering arms, thus unable to prevent a length delivery from brushing his bat’s toe and flying to the wicketkeeper.

Sandwiched in between was Sam Konstas’ unlucky dismissal, who had his pull shot thrown astray to midwicket by a Mulani delivery that turned square.

Published on Sep 29, 2026

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