The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Australia `A' in command

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Thursday, Jul 20, 2006

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Australia `A' in command

Melbourne: India `A' put up a pathetic batting display and was tottering at 221 for seven on the second day of a four-day match against Australia `A' in the Top End cricket series at Cairns on Wednesday.

The Indians are still 140 runs behind in its first innings when play was called off early due to bad light.

Australia `A', which declared its first innings at 461 for four in the morning, ensured it did not lose the grip on the match

The speedsters did the maximum damage, with Shane Watson picking up three for 39, Mitchell Johnson two for 39 and Shaun Tait two for 43.

Robin Uthappa stood tall among the ruins, scoring 50 off 57 balls with four boundaries before being caught and bowled by Watson.

His partners at the other end kept losing their wickets at regular intervals to leave India `A' at a shaky 115 for four. It was then left to S. Badrinath (59) and Rohit Sharma (41) to steady the ship.

Rohit's 59-ball innings had six boundaries, but both the batsmen failed to capitalise on their good work.

Earlier, the host milked the India `A' bowling, adding 100 runs to its overnight score of 361 for two in 23 overs before declaring.

Phil Jaques, 199 overnight, went on to make 240 off 331 balls with 21 hits to the fence before being trapped leg before by Venugopala Rao. The other overnight batsman Travis Birt also completed his century before being run out by a throw from R.P. Singh.

The scores: Australia `A' 461 for four decl. (Phil Jaques 240, Travis Birt 130) vs India `A' 221 for seven (Robin Uthappa 50, S. Badrinath 59, Rohit Sharma 41). — Agencies

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