Shams Mulani’s four-for puts India A 163 runs ahead of Australia A

Mulani leads India A’s decisive bowling display

Shams Mulani produced a telling spell on a bowler-friendly surface in Puducherry as India A dismissed Australia A for 171 to secure a 163-run first-innings lead in their four-day match.

Mulani finished with 4-67 after India A had posted 334, a total built around wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra’s patient 113 from 240 deliveries and Tanush Kotian’s 69. The result gave India A the option of enforcing the follow-on, which requires a lead of at least 150 in a four-day game.

India A’s seamers made early inroads in windy and overcast conditions. Campbell Kellaway was trapped leg before wicket by Anshul Kamboj, while Praful Hinge bowled Nathan McSweeney with a delivery that nipped away after pitching.

Mulani then took control. He bowled Australia A captain Peter Handscomb with an arm ball that skidded through to hit middle stump, before dismissing Liam Scott for 26 with a sharply turning delivery. Jason Sangha, who had made 46, was the spinner’s fourth victim as Mulani varied his pace and extracted enough turn to trouble the Australian batters.

India A’s management had not announced whether it would enforce the follow-on, leaving Australia A facing a difficult challenge on the third morning.

Brief scores

India A 334 (Kumar Kushagra 113, Tanush Kotian 69; Corey Rocchiccioli 4-95, Todd Murphy 3-77) vs Australia A 171 (Jason Sangha 46; Shams Mulani 4-67).