McSweeney, Beardman set up Australia’s big win over India A in first one day game

Nathan McSweeney scored a fighting 123 off 135 balls to help Australia A post 274. | Photo Credit: Cricket Association of Pondicherry

Four wickets against his name, three with balls over 142 kmph on the speed gun. Mahli Beardman’s raging balls of fire proved too hot for India A as it succumbed to a 125-run loss to Australia A in the first one-dayer at the CAP Ground in Puducherry on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old’s timely strikes helped bowl the home side out for 149 after Nathan McSweeney scored a fighting hundred (123, 135b, 4x10) to post a target of 275. Rajat Patidar was the only Indian batter (53, 51b, 5x4, 1x6) who managed to put up some resistance.

After choosing to bat first, Australia A was pushed onto the back foot quickly. In his first over, Yash Thakur banged one in to force Mitch Owen into a mistimed pull. Nishant Sindhu and ‘keeper Prabhsimran Singh collided with each other, but the latter emerged with the ball safely in his gloves. Sam Konstas was also hurried by a short ball, handing an easy catch to short midwicket.

With two more edges finding the fielders, the visitors found themselves in trouble at 87 for five. But McSweeney and captain Will Sutherland arrested the slide with a cautious sixth-wicket partnership. McSweeney survived a dropped chance from Devdutt Padikkal at first slip and made the most of it with a controlled innings. The South Australian had his fair share of luck with umpteen leading edges landing safely, but he pushed the ball into the gaps and ran hard as the field opened up.

Once the pair combined for a 50-run stand, Sutherland clicked up the gear as the lights came on for the final hour of the innings. He used his long levers to loft spinners into the legside fence. Three of his four sixes came in a single over against the otherwise miserly Anukul Roy, awakening a crowd that had fallen silent during the rebuild.

Just as Australia A’s fightback looked set to help it reach 300, Suryansh Shedge picked three in four overs to open up the tail. McSweeney’s solid innings ended after being given lbw off a Thakur slow ball, and the visitors were shut out soon after.

Despite Beardman sending the Indian top order packing by beating them with his pace, India A continued to harbour hopes of chasing the total down with its extended batting line-up. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, a fan favourite at the venue, and Rajat Patidar combined for a steady 34-run partnership.

But once the former drove a full ball down the throat of point for 15, the writing was on the wall for India A. Sindhu managed to give Patidar company for 61 balls to maintain the suspense but once he was caught at the deep by a diving Konstas effort, the lower order folded quite meekly.

Brief scores

Australia A 274 all out in 48.2 overs (Nathan McSweeney 123, Will Sutherland 77, Thakur 3/47, Shedge 4/40) lost to India A (Rajat Patidar 53, Beardman 4/23).