AGENCIES
BRISBANE
Australia A's seamers, led by Kane Richardson and Jackson Bird, dismantled India A's top order to leave them tottering at 6 for 46 on the first morning of the second four-day game in Brisbane. Hardik Pandya then countered with an unbeaten 79, a 112-ball knock that featured nine fours and a six, to carry India to 9 for 169 before bad light scuppered the final session with 24 overs remaining.
Australia, who chose to field, conceded just five runs in the first six overs of the morning without picking up a wicket, before Faiz Fazal was caught off Richardson. Australia then took three wickets in the space of six balls to reduce the visitors to 4 for 11 in the 12th over. Thereafter, Naman Ojha, the captain, and Sanju Samson resisted for 16 overs in which thy added 32 for the fifth wicket. However, both fell in quick succession on either side of the lunch break.
Pandya and Jayant Yadav then led India's resurrection with a 78-run, seventh-wicket stand. Yadav contributed with a patient 28, but was bowled by Richardson before the tea interval. Bird and Richardson returned to take a wicket each after the break, before bad light ended play prematurely with India on the verge of getting bowled out.
Bird and Richardson, who shared the new ball, took three wickets each, while Chadd Sayers and Hilton Cartwright, the right-arm medium pacers, took one apiece.
