Australia A spinners turn the screws as India A slump to 122/5 in Puducherry

Hosts crumble on turning track despite Rasheed and Padikkal resistance

Australia A's spinners made the most of the slow, turning conditions in Puducherry as India A were left reeling at 122 for 5 — still 236 runs behind the visitors at stumps on the second day of the second unofficial Test on Wednesday.

With Australia preparing for next year's Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the two four-day games against India A are providing an early audition for the bowlers looking to partner veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon in the Test set-up.

Off-spinners Todd Murphy (2-26) and Corey Rocchiccioli (1-30) continued to make a strong case for inclusion in the senior touring party. Both had impressed in the opening 'Test' and again found enough turn and bounce to trouble the batters, repeatedly beating the outside edge and forcing the hosts onto the back foot on a surface that offered increasing assistance to the slower bowlers.

Brief scores

Australia A: 358 all out (S Harper 128; A Kamboj 3-34).
India A: 122 for 5 (S Rasheed 36 batting, Devdutt Padikkal 31; T Murphy 2-26).

The hosts will need a monumental fightback on day three to avoid conceding a significant first-innings deficit, with Shaik Rasheed unbeaten on 36 and the lower order facing a stern examination against a confident Australian spin attack.