After early hiccups, teenage batter Sam Konstas guided Australia A to victory with an unbeaten half-century throughout day three of the second unofficial Test in opposition to India A in Melbourne.
Chasing 168 within the fourth innings, Australia A have been in a spot of hassle when Prasidh Krishna struck twice in two balls to ship Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft packing for a duck. The fast wickets introduced in Konstas at No.4. The 19-year-old prodigy, who’s in competition for a gap spot within the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar trophy for Australia, ensured he made the chance depend. Konstas steadied the ship in a 46-run stand with captain Nathan McSweeney earlier than the latter departed for 25 off 69 balls, with Mukesh Kumar being the wicket-taker.
All-rounder Tanush Kotian quickly eliminated Oliver Davies for a 22-ball 21, lowering Australia to 73-4. Having misplaced the primary match by seven wickets, India would have sensed some probability to degree the sequence. However, in a 96-run partnership, Konstas and Beau Webster took Australia residence with out additional injury. Webster, who helped his facet chase 225 within the first match with 61*, remained unbeaten on 46, whereas Konstas completed on 73 not out off 128 balls, together with seven fours and a six.
With his harmful knock in opposition to South Africa in Durban, Sanju Samson turned solely the fourth participant to attain a century in consecutive males’s T20Is 🔥
Who are the opposite three? ➡️ https://t.co/ybgiGOjBtq#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/gMSzKsAihs
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 8, 2024
Marcus Harris, one among Konstas’ opponents for the opening spot, impressed with a 138-ball 74 within the first innings, whereas Cameron Bancroft, the opposite one, scored solely three and a duck.
Despite the loss, there have been few brilliant spots for the vacationers. Dhruv Jurel’s two fifties in a row gave them a possible batting alternative within the Perth Test, whereas Prasidh Krishna, a part of India’s Test squad for the sequence impressed with the bowl, selecting up 4-50 and 2-37.
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