Australia A Thrash India A by 9 Wickets to Level Unofficial ODI Series

Digital Desk

In a rain-affected match at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium, Australia A clinched a commanding nine-wicket victory over India A in the second unofficial ODI on Friday, leveling the three-match series 1-1. A dominant batting performance saw Australia A chase down a revised target with 50 balls to spare, rendering a valiant 94 from India's Tilak Varma inconsequential .

India A’s Innings: A Tale of Collapse & Resistance

After winning the toss and opting to bat, India A found themselves in deep trouble early on, slumping to 17 for 3 within the first six overs . Openers Abhishek Sharma (0) and Prabhsimran Singh (1) fell cheaply, and first-match centurion Shreyas Iyer was dismissed for 8 .

The innings was rescued by a 101-run partnership between Tilak Varma and Riyan Parag, which steadied the ship . Parag was the aggressor in the stand, scoring a brisk 58 off 54 balls before his dismissal triggered another collapse, with India A losing 3 wickets for just 18 runs .

Through it all, Tilak Varma held firm with a mature 94 runs off 122 deliveries , an innings that included five fours and four sixes . He found some support from the lower order, with Ravi Bishnoi (26) and Harshit Rana (21) making useful contributions, but was the last man out as India A were bowled out for 246 in 45.5 overs . For Australia A, captain Jack Edwards was the chief destroyer with the ball, taking 4 for 56 .

Australia A’s Commanding Chase & Series Decider

Australia A's chase began explosively, with Jake Fraser-McGurk smashing 36 off just 20 balls in an opening stand of 57 . Rain then interrupted play after 5.5 overs, causing a lengthy delay. Upon resumption, the match was reduced to 25 overs with a revised DLS target of 160 .

Any hopes India A had of building pressure evaporated as Mackenzie Harvey and Cooper Connolly unleashed an unstoppable assault. The pair added 103 runs in just 59 deliveries for the second wicket, blowing the opposition away .

Mackenzie Harvey remained unbeaten on a powerful 70 off 49 balls , hitting 10 fours and two sixes .

Cooper Connolly was equally destructive, racing to an unbeaten 50 off 31 balls , a knock that included five fours and three sixes .

Australia A sealed the comprehensive win in just 16.4 overs, hitting a total of 22 fours and six sixes during their chase . The series will be decided in the third and final unofficial ODI, scheduled to be played at the same venue in Kanpur on Sunday, October 5 .