India-A secures thrilling draw against Australia-A to take multi-day series 1-0

Yash Rathod put his lean run behind and scored 80 runs in the second innings against Australia-A. | Photo Credit: CAP

On a day when Yash Rathod (80, 138b, 8x4) put a lean run behind him and Tushar Deshpande (52, 119b, 4x4, 1x6) reminded of his batting credentials, it was Nachiket Bhute and Praful Hinge who emerged the unlikely heroes and secured a draw for India-A against Australia-A at the Siechem Cricket Stadium in Puducherry on Friday.

Australia-A had resigned itself to fate because of Rathod and Shams Mulani (29, 131b, 2x4), who put up 85 for the eighth wicket, a partnership that lasted 36 overs, including 16 against a second new ball.

But Liam Scott (5/37) broke open a window with his skiddy length deliveries, that zipped low and pinned them both, leaving Bhute and Hinge to play out the final three of the mandatory final 15. Australia-A threw the kitchen sink at them, packing in 10 fielders in catching positions, but still had its victory march stalled. In denying the final wicket, Bhute and Hinge also got a 1-0 series victory in the bag.

The late twist was nowhere on the cards after Rathod and Mulani took matters into their hands at 199 for seven.

Neither batter wavered from the task at hand and only picked boundaries when offered either length or width. Rathod began the third session with a cover-driven boundary off Jason Sangha while Mulani latched onto one for a sweep.

The writing seemed on the wall by the time Rathod cut away Todd Murphy twice through covers in the 92nd over. But Scott had the gumption of a final surge.

No less was the contribution from Deshpande in the morning session that instilled the hope of a draw. He cut away and lofted Jhye Richardon for two boundaries in a 13-run over to begin the day. The outcome could have been different for Australia-A had Jason Sangha grabbed his edge off Corey Rocchiccioli on 23.

However, Deshpande’s effort seemed to have been undone by the second session slump India-A suffered.

Liam Scott picked a five-wicket haul to give Australia-A a chance to win the match. | Photo Credit: CAP

Devdutt Padikkal was holding his own until he went for a poke outside off against Scott and was caught behind. Deshpande was unlucky to miscue his drive to mid-off after a Liam Hatcher length delivery held up off the surface.

A 54-run fifth-wicket stand between Shaik Rasheed and Rathod was only temporary relief. Rasheed was mindful not to retreat into a shell like the first innings. His first boundary was driven through mid-off against Hatcher, but he truly tore into Jhye Richardson.

Off Richardson, he pressed onto his front foot, whipping through square leg for successive boundaries. Rasheed had his short-arm jab ready for the surprise bouncer and he had truly irked the pacer when an edge crept through the cordon.

But he threw away a fifty once again, misreading the length off part-timer Nathan McSweeney and getting leg-before. Kotian picked long-on with a lazy hoick off Rocchiccioli while Kumar Kushagra perished against Scott, off a delivery that barely rose and snuck under his bat.

A series-levelling win was in sight for Australia-A, but India’s tail had other plans.