India A vs Australia: Spin-struck Kangaroos escape with a draw

Zeenews Sports Bureau

Live updates on Day 3 of the 3-day practice match between India A and Australia being played at Chennai. Result: Match Drawn MATCH REPORT» ==================================================================================== AUSTRALIA (2nd Innings) Score: 195/3 II Overs: 55 (Khwaja 31*, Wade 19*) The 3-day practice match between India A and Australia ended in a draw. Usman Khwaja and Matthew Wade were unbeaten on 31 and 19, respectively, as Australia scored 195/3 in 55 overs in the second innings after following on when two captains decided to end the match during the post tea session on the last day. Australia were bundled out for 235 in the first innings in reply to Indian A’s 451. ==================================================================================== AUSTRALIA (2nd Innings) Score: 163/3 II Overs: 40 (Khwaja 16*, Wade 1*) Australian openers- Shane Watson and Ed Cowan- scored half-centuries as Australia scored 163/3 at tea. Watson made a brisk 60 off 63 balls with the help of 9 fours and a six before being run-out while Cowan scored 53 off 81 balls with the same number of fours and six. Off-spinner Jalaj Saxena removed Cowan. Rakesh Dhurv then got one down Phillip Hughes for 19. When tea was taken, Usman Khwaja was playing on 16 while Matthew Wade was not out on 1. ==================================================================================== AUSTRALIA (2nd Innings) Score: 38/0 II Overs: 8 (Shane Watson 17*, Ed Cowan 21*) Following on, Australia reached 38 without loss at lunch on the final day. They still trailed by 178 runs with 10 wickets remaining. Openers Shane Watson (17*) and Ed Cowan (21*) so far ensured that Australia did not face any further humiliation in the practice match before the all important first Test of the 4-match series that starts from February 22 in Chennai. ==================================================================================== AUSTRALIA Score: 235 all out II Overs: 62.3 (Shane Waton 84, Matthew Wade 44, Rakesh Dhurv 5/51, Jalaj Saxena 4/61) Saurashtra left-arm spinner Rakesh Dhurv claimed a five-for as Australia were bundled out for 235 runs in just 62.3 overs in their first innings in reply to India A’s 451. Dhurv had Matthew Wade for 44 caught by MS Gony to take the last wicket of the Australian team and wrapped them up for a moderate 235 and in that process completed his five-wicket haul. Indian A batsman Manoj Tiwary, who scored a ton on Sunday, questioned Australian batsmen's ability to play spin. It turned out to be true today as nine Australian batsmen fell to the Indian spin duo of Dhurv and Saxena, who also took 4 wickets for 61 runs. Indian captain Gautam Gambhir then asked the Australian to team follow on. ==================================================================================== AUSTRALIA Score: 216/9 II Overs: 60 (Wade 28*, Agar 1*) Indian A’s Left-arm spinner Rakesh Dhurv and off-spinner Jalaj Saxena claimed two wickets each as Australian lower-middle order crumbled in the morning session on the final day of the practice match. As soon as Drurv got the wicket of Moises Henriques for 33, Australian lower order batsmen could not stand in front of the spin duo. Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade (28*) was standing only with Ashton Agar (1*) giving him company. After 60 overs, Australia were 216/9. They still trailed by 235 runs with 1 wicket remaining in the 1st innings. ==================================================================================== AUSTRALIA Score: 174/4 II Overs: 45 (Wade 9*, Henriques 31*) Moises Henriques (31* off 37 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes.) took the attack to the oppositions as he started dealing with boundaries and over boundaries in the morning session. Australia have added 43 runs in the morning session so far in just 9 overs. Resuming at 131/4, they reached 174/4 in 45 overs with wicket-keeper Matthew Wade remaining unbeaten on 9. ==================================================================================== Preview Australia would resume the final day of the 3-day practice match against India A at 131/4 at Chennai on Monday. When stumps were drawn on Day 2, Matthew Wade was playing on 3 while Moises Henriques was unbeaten on 1. All the four wickets to fall for Australia were taken by the India A spin duo of Rakseh Dhurv (2/19) and Jalaj Saxena (2/14). Earlier, two attractive centuries by India A skipper Gautam Gambhir (112) and Bengal middle-order batsman Manoj Tiwary (129) helped India A post 451 in their first innings.