India A secured a convincing 162 run victory over Australia A in the first unofficial Test at the Cricket Association Puducherry Siechem Stadium on Friday. The result gave India A a 1 to 0 lead in the two match series, with the second four day game scheduled to begin in Puducherry on September 29.
While left arm spinner Shams Mulani emerged as the leading wicket taker for India A, pacer Anshul Kamboj played an important role in breaking Australia's resistance on the fourth morning. The Puducherry conditions were challenging for the fast bowlers, with intense heat and a surface that offered inconsistent bounce. Kamboj adapted to those conditions and used the cracks and variable bounce effectively.
Australia A began the final day on 55 for 2 and needed another 308 runs to reach the target of 363. Nathan McSweeney and captain Peter Handscomb were at the crease, but Kamboj quickly changed the course of the innings.
McSweeney was beaten by extra bounce and was dismissed for 35. Two overs later, Kamboj removed Handscomb for 16 when a delivery stayed unusually low and crashed into the off stump. The two wickets in quick succession put Australia A under significant pressure.
Kamboj finished the second innings with figures of 2 for 25. Speaking after the match, he explained that bowling in the Puducherry heat required considerable physical effort. He also highlighted the nature of the surface, saying the pitch had whitish soil, limited bounce and required the bowlers to keep the ball in the area around the stumps.
After Kamboj's breakthrough spell, Tushar Deshpande continued the pressure on the Australian batting lineup. Deshpande dismissed Josh Philippe and Liam Scott from successive deliveries, leaving Australia A in a difficult position. Tanush Kotian then removed Jason Sangha, further reducing the visitors' chances of mounting a successful chase.
Australia A did manage to delay the inevitable through Fergus O'Neill and Todd Murphy. The pair added 67 runs for the eighth wicket, which became the highest partnership for Australia A in the innings. O'Neill top scored with 47, but the visitors could not sustain their resistance after the lunch interval.
Shams Mulani completed the job for India A after lunch. The left arm spinner dismissed O'Neill and then helped remove the remaining Australian batters as the visitors were bowled out for 200 in 55.1 overs. Mulani took three wickets in the second innings and finished the match with seven wickets for 124 runs.
The victory was built on strong performances throughout the four day contest. India A scored 334 in their first innings, with Kumar Kushagra producing a century. Kushagra scored 113, while Tanush Kotian contributed 69 and Sai Sudharsan made 57. Australia A were then dismissed for 171 in their first innings, giving India A a substantial advantage.
India A scored 199 in their second innings, with captain Devdutt Padikkal making 59 and Kumar Kushagra remaining unbeaten on 46. The total gave Australia A a target of 363, but the visitors struggled to handle the changing conditions during their chase.
The Puducherry pitch became increasingly difficult to bat on as the match progressed. Uneven bounce and assistance for the spinners made stroke-making difficult, while the Indian bowling attack maintained pressure from both ends. Reports from the match noted that the surface offered enough variation to challenge the Australian batters, particularly during the final innings.
Kamboj's contribution was particularly significant because his wickets came at the beginning of the fourth day's play. Removing both McSweeney and Handscomb in consecutive overs prevented Australia A from building a partnership that could have put pressure on India A.
The Haryana pacer has also built a reputation in domestic red ball cricket. He previously produced a 10 wicket match haul against Kerala in the Ranji Trophy and has been part of India's wider Test setup. His ability to generate movement and make use of variable bounce has been one of the notable aspects of his first class bowling.
For India A, the victory also provided useful match practice for several players competing for higher honours. The four day fixture gave batters and bowlers an opportunity to adapt to red ball conditions against a strong Australia A side.
Kumar Kushagra was named Player of the Match for his contribution with the bat. His century in the first innings played an important role in helping India A recover from a difficult position after Australia A's bowlers had initially created pressure.
The first unofficial Test was therefore a collective bowling success for India A, with Kamboj providing the early pace breakthroughs, Deshpande producing a three wicket second innings spell and Mulani finishing with seven wickets in the match. The combination ensured that Australia's chase never developed into a sustained challenge.
The second unofficial Test between India A and Australia A will also be played in Puducherry from September 29 to October 2. The series will then move into a three match one day phase. India A will enter the second four day fixture with a 1 to 0 series lead.
