At stumps on Day-three of the second unofficial Test, India A finished with 267 for 6, amassing a second innings lead of 53 runs over Australia A. Baba Aparajith (28) and Shreyas Gopal (0) were the batsmen at the crease for the hosts at the Chapauk Stadium in Chennai.
After dismissing Australia A for 349, India A got off to a rocky start in their second innings, losing Cheteshwar Pujara to a run-out. Abhinav Mukund and Virat Kohli steadied the ship with a 63-run partnership for the second wicket. While Mukund went on to score a half-century, Virat missed it by five runs as Stephen O’Keefe got him out bowled for 45.
Karun Nair came in to bat after Virat’s dismissal and unleashed an attack on the Aussie bowlers. He breezed his way to 31 off 34 balls with seven fours. The assault didn’t last long, however, as Gurinder Sandhu sent him back.
Mukund, who was playing the role of a sheet anchor, fell to Ashton Agar for a resolute 59 off 163 balls. Mukund’s wicket followed that of Shreyas Iyer (48), who became O’Keefe’s second victim. The two new batsmen in the middle – Naman Ojha (30) and Baba Aparajith – added 47 runs before the left-arm spinner returned to sent Ojha packing. O’Keefe finished the day with three wickets for 83 runs off his 28 overs.
Aparajith and Shreyas Gopal saw out the rest of the day without any more damage.
