Nathan McSweeney’s 123 propelled Australia A to a comfortable 125-run victory over India A in the first unofficial One-Day International on October 6 in Puducherry. Australia A produced 274 in 48.2 overs, and their bowlers then pounded the host side for 149 in 31.4 overs to finish the game well within the final ten overs.
McSweeney’s knock was the highlight of the Australian innings. He worked with skipper Will Sutherland at a vital juncture to rebuild the innings and propel Australia A to a competitive score. Sutherland scored 77, and Suryansh Shedge was the most efficient of the India A bowlers, with figures of 4-40.
Mahli Beardman was the star bowler in the chase, finishing with 4-23 to destroy India A’s batting order. Rajat Patidar top-scored for the hosts with 53, but once he left after reaching fifty, the lower order provided no opposition. India A was bowled out in the 32nd over, falling considerably short of the 275-run total.
How did Australia A recover from its poor start?
Australia A’s innings got underway quickly. Mitchell Owen hit a six and a four in the opening over, while Sam Konstas added boundaries in the second. However, India A responded sharply. Owen mistimed a pull and was caught for 10, while Konstas was undone by a short-pitched delivery, giving Yash Thakur his second wicket. Arshad Khan then dismissed Josh Philippe three balls later, leaving Australia A on 30/3 after five overs.
Liam Scott and McSweeney provided a solid foundation for the innings before Nishant Sindhu dismissed Scott. Nikhil Chaudhary left three overs later, leaving Australia A in severe difficulty with five wickets already down. Sutherland joined McSweeney at this time, and the two decided to bat deep rather than press the tempo.
McSweeney took advantage of a reprieve to reach fifty, and Sutherland snuggled in beside him.
Sutherland changed gears, pulling Anukul Roy over the fence to reach his half-century, then targeting the same bowler with three consecutive sixes in the next over. McSweeney continued to accumulate and eventually completed his century, ensuring Australia A finished with a total worth defending.
How did India A’s pursuit progress?
India A’s response broke apart from the beginning. Sai Sudharsan gloved a Beardman delivery to the goalkeeper for one, and Beardman then dismissed both Devdutt Padikkal and Prabhsimran Singh in the same over, leaving India A at 24/3 and in serious difficulty.
Ruturaj Gaikwad showed brief resistance, and Patidar kept the scoreboard rolling with boundaries, but Spencer Johnson returned for his second session and dismissed Gaikwad, India A’s most consistent batter at the time. Sindhu set some boundaries before being trapped in the deep, and no meaningful collaboration followed.
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Patidar fell after reaching fifty, and Beardman completed his four-wicket haul by removing Shedge. With the bottom order unable to provide support, India A folded in the 32nd over for 149, earning Australia A a convincing 125-run victory in the series’ first match.
