IND-A vs AUS-A, 1st Unofficial Test: Kushagra ton, Mulani put India in the driver’s seat; Australia trails by 163 runs

Kumar Kushagra checked his instinct and took up almost an hour to complete his seventh First-Class ton off 202 balls. | Photo Credit: Cricket Association of Pondicherry

Australia-A slumped on either side of a Jason Sangha spin counterattack and folded for 171, a massive 163 short of India-A’s 334, on the second day of the first unofficial Test at the Siechem Cricket Stadium in Puducherry on Wednesday.

Sangha produced a 64-ball 46 after walking in at 37 for three and late recovery appeared to be the theme for the second day in a row.

He began with consecutive sweep shots against Shams Mulani (4/68) after Tea before riding the bounce against Tushar Deshpande and punching him through point twice.

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Liam Scott took a leaf out of this playbook and ransacked 14 runs off Tanush Kotian in three deliveries. He bookended a hit down the ground with a cut past point and a slog sweep through midwicket.

He was approaching Mulani in the same vein when he hopped out and wafted him into the sightscreen. But the left-arm orthodox had the last laugh as he floated a delivery full, got it to turn and had Scott caught behind.

Mulani led the bowling pack with a four-wicket haul. | Photo Credit: Cricket Association of Pondicherry

Two overs later, Sangha threw his wicket away in an attempt to clear the point fielder with a reverse sweep.

Kotian and Mulani wrapped up the tail, giving India-A the option of imposing a follow-on when play resumes on the third day.

The spinners took the honours in the final session but it was because of the quicks that Australia-A was behind the eight ball.

The top and middle orders, which boasted of five capped players, unravelled in front of lateral movement and low bounce. Anshul Kamboj nabbed Campbell Kellaway with a nip-backer while Praful Hinge unleashed a scorcher that came in with the angle but seamed away and crashed the off-stump of Nathan McSweeney.

Sam Konstas was far from the hotheaded opening renegade who had caught India by surprise during the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy, putting a price on his wicket and negotiating the early period. But Deshpande’s delivery nipped in sharply and pinned him in front on 25.

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Mulani got the benefit of low bounce as he castled Peter Handscomb, but his wickets later came off his own craft.

In the first session, Kotian, resuming the day on 68, lasted just four balls and was snaffled in the cordon off Brendan Doggett. But Kumar Kushagra checked his instinct and took up almost an hour to complete his seventh First-Class ton off 202 balls.

Anshul Kamboj and Tushar Deshpande hung around in support, offering carefree slogs befitting their reputation as attacking tailenders.

Kushagra showed no intent of changing gears after his century, but would be ruing the approach. On a rapidly deteriorating pitch, his end was inevitable and it came when a Corey Rocchiccioli (4/95) delivery pitched outside the off-stump line, spun and crashed into his leg stump.

Published on Sep 23, 2026

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