Deshpande and Kamboj wreak havoc as India A crush Australia A by 162 runs to take series lead
India A romped to a handsome 162-run victory over Australia A in the first unofficial Test in Puducherry, wrapping up the contest shortly after Lunch on the fourth day to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Set 363 for victory on a surface offering increasingly uneven bounce and turn, Australia A resumed the final day on 55/2 but crumbled to 200 all out. A complete bowling performance from the pace pair of Anshul Kamboj and Tushar Deshpande led the way, before left-arm spinner Shams Mulani mopped up the tail.
Morning carnage from Kamboj and Deshpande
Nathan McSweeney and captain Peter Handscomb began the day positively, picking up a few early boundaries, but the treacherous pitch undid both batters in contrasting fashion. Kamboj got one to rear off a length, catching McSweeney by surprise as the ball flew off his glove to gully, and two overs later Handscomb had no answer to a delivery that kept considerably low and bowled him.
That set the tone once Deshpande replaced Kamboj and extracted reverse swing of his own. The right-armer castled wicketkeeper Josh Philippe with a sharp nip-backer, leaving the batter bemused by the lack of bounce off a length, and then produced a first-ball shock for Liam Scott with a shorter delivery to the same effect.
Jason Sangha, who approached his innings positively, stepped out and launched offspinner Tanush Kotian over long off for six. But Kotian cleverly switched angles and cleaned Sangha up on the sweep, leaving Australia A reeling at 124/7.
O'Neill-Murphy resistance not enough as Mulani finishes the job
Fergus O'Neill and Todd Murphy then combined for a 67-run stand — the highest partnership of the innings. After a steady start, O'Neill took the attack to Kotian, pouncing on anything too short while also nailing a slog-sweep for six. With Murphy solid at his end, Australia A got through to Lunch without further damage.
But Mulani, who had picked up a four-for in the first innings, didn't take long to wrap up proceedings, taking the last three wickets. O'Neill fell three short of a fifty, caught at deep midwicket attempting another slog-sweep, before the final two dismissals came via two excellent diving catches — Sai Sudharsan snaffling Murphy at leg gully, and Shaik Rasheed charging in from long off to bring the curtains down on the contest.
How the Test unfolded
The platform for the win had been laid earlier in the game. Kumar Kushagra's 113, plus half-centuries from Kotian (69) and Sudharsan (57), powered India A to 334 in the first innings, with Corey Rocchiccioli (4-95) and Todd Murphy (3-77) doing much of the bowling for Australia A. The tourists could only manage 171 in response — Jason Sangha's 46 the top score — as Mulani took 4-67 and Kotian chipped in with 2-31.
In the second essay, captain Devdutt Padikkal top-scored with 59 and Kushagra finished unbeaten on 46 as India A were bowled out for 199, Todd Murphy claiming 4-48 and Brendan Doggett 2-21. On a surface that got progressively worse to bat on, a lead of 362 proved comfortably sufficient in the end.
Brief scores
India A 334 (Kumar Kushagra 113, Tanush Kotian 69, Sai Sudharsan 57; Corey Rocchiccioli 4-95, Todd Murphy 3-77) and 199 (Devdutt Padikkal 59, Kumar Kushagra 46*; Todd Murphy 4-48, Brendan Doggett 2-21) beat Australia A 171 (Jason Sangha 46, Liam Scott 26; Shams Mulani 4-67, Tanush Kotian 2-31) and 200 (Fergus O'Neill 47, Nathan McSweeney 35; Tushar Deshpande 3-14, Shams Mulani 3-57, Anshul Kamboj 2-25) by 162 runs.