Jasprit Bumrah was the surprise package with the bat for the visitors in the second session on the opening day of the day-night warm-up game between Australia A and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. With the Australia A bowlers sending the Indian top-order back in the opening session itself, Bumrah (55*) combined with Mohammed Siraj (22) to put on 71 for the last wicket as the visitors finished on 194.
Going into the dinner break, Australia's score read 6/0 as Marcus Harris (4) and Joe Burns played out a solitary over from Mohammad Shami. But the session was all about Bumrah using the long handle to great effect as he hit his maiden first-class fifty. Bumrah's unbeaten knock came of just 57 deliveries as he hit two sixes and six boundaries. Siraj on the other hand played a somewhat second fiddle as his 22 came off 34 balls with one six and two boundaries. For Australia, Sean Abbott (3/46) and Jack Wildermuth (3/13) were the stars with the ball.
Australia A all-rounder Cameron Green had to leave the ground after a straight drive from Bumrah's bat burst through his hand to hit the former on his head. It looked more of a precautionary step as he walked off without too much discomfort with the medical team.
Earlier, opting to bat first after Ajinkya Rahane won the toss, the Indian batsmen put up a dismal show as they were left reeling at 111/6 at the end of the opening session with Wildermuth bagging three wickets. Even though Prithvi Shaw (40 off 29 balls) and Shubman Gill (43 off 58 balls) looked good, their lack of application in the long format is something that is a worry for sure. Having both done the hard yards, it was important for them to play themselves in.
While Shaw and Gill failed to capitalise on a good start, Hanuma Vihari (15), Rahane (4), Rishabh Pant (5) and Wriddhiman Saha (0) just couldn't get going as the Australia A bowlers looked to make hay with the newish pink ball. The team definitely missed the presence of regular skipper Virat Kohli as the latter decided to skip the game and stay fresh for the opening Test at the Adelaide Oval from December 17.
Brief scores: India 194 ( Bumrah 55*, Gill 43; Wildermuth 3/13) vs Australia A 6/0
( With inputs from ANI )
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