Edwards, McSweeney take Australia A to 350 despite Suthar fifer

Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar grabbed a five-wicket haul while Jack Edwards and skipper Nathan McSweeney struck half-centuries as Australia A reached 350/9 at Stumps on the opening day of the second unofficial Test in Lucknow on Tuesday (September 23).

Suthar was the pick of India A's bowlers, finishing with figures of 5/93 from 28 overs as he consistently troubled the Australian batters with his accurate left-arm spin. For the visitors, Edwards top-scored with an entertaining 88 off 78 balls, striking 11 fours and a six with his aggressive approach leading Australia A's fightback after they slipped to 214/6.

Asked to bat, the day didn't start on a good note for Australia A as they lost Campbell Kellaway early for just 9, caught by Sai Sudharsan off Prasidh Krishna's bowling. Sam Konstas looked promising in his 49-run knock, before Mohammed Siraj had him caught by N Jagadeesan. While McSweeney tried to steady things, he wasn't receiving much support from the other end as Oliver Peake and Cooper Connolly fell in quick succession, both to Suthar, leaving Australia A at 150/4.

McSweeney and Josh Philippe brought up a half-century stand as they tried to get the innings back on track. But McSweeney fell to Gurnoor Brar and then Philippe became Suthar's third wicket. The lower order showed resilience with Edwards leading the charge as he struck 11 fours and a six in his brisk knock. Even as he led Australia A past 300, Suthar added the wickets of Will Sutherland and Corey Rocchiccioli to bag a fifer.

Australia A were 274/8 at one stage but Edwards played well to take them to a competitive total, and received good support from Todd Murphy in a 55-run ninth wicket stand. But he missed out on a hundred as he fell to Brar, before Murphy and Henry Thornton added an unbroken 21-run stand leading into Stumps.

Brief scores: Australia A 350/9 (Jack Edwards 88, Nathan McSweeney 74, Sam Konstas 40; Manav Suthar 5-93, Gurnoor Brar 2-71) vs India A.