Opener Cameron Bancroft steered Australia A to a three-wicket victory in the unofficial “Test” over India A by scoring a responsible half-century in his team’s chase of 159.
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Peter Handscomb was dismissed for 24 (3-42), followed by Marcus Stoinis, lbw, for no score (4-50). Wet ground conditions delayed the start of the fourth day for nearly three hours, but Australia A knocked off the 100 runs required in 35.3 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Day 4 was expected to be a tough one for both sides and so it turned out to be, but Cameron Bancroft, the Australian wicket-keeper batsman, showed huge resolve and finished with an unbeaten 58 off 151 balls with 6 fours to guide his team to victory.
Play was abandoned yesterday due to rain with Australia A requiring 100 runs to secure a victory and six wickets still in hand.
Cameron Bancroft (16) and Beau Webster (6) are at the crease after India A quick Shardul Thakur had taken two wickets in two balls.
Earlier on Day Three, the host had bowled India A out for 156 to end its second innings just before the lunch break.
Australia A came out to bat knowing that they had wrestled back the advantage from the Indian side, but two wickets in two balls from Shardul Thakur had them reeling at 17/2.
Meanwhile, Handscomb was adjudged “Man of the Match” for his 93-ball 87 runs in the first innings. The second four-day match will commence at AB Field in Brisbane on Thursday.
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India A: 230 (Manish Pandey 77, Mitchell Swepson 4/78, David Moody 3/26) and 156 (Jayant Yadav 46, Daniel Worrall 3/43, Chadd Sayers 3/21, David Moody 3/64).
