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Marcus North hit a brilliant half century as Australia [Images] 'A' fought back in the second innings after being forced to follow-on in the three-day game against India 'A' that ended in a draw at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Friday.

After being dismissed for 116 -- adding just three runs to the overnight score of 113 for eight -- the visitors raised their game several notches and emerged with a far more creditable performance in their second essay.

M B Parmar (4 for 37) and Piyush Chawla [Images] (3 for 39) were the home team's most successful bowlers.

Following-on, Simon Katich's team, which conceded a first innings lead of 168 runs, ended day three on 263 for 7 in 81 overs, with top-scorer North hitting ten fours in his 149-ball knock of 88.

He was well-supported by Katich, who scored 56, inclusive of seven fours and a six, while Phillip Hughes (43) and George Bailey (29) chipped in with useful contributions to deny India victory.

Hughes and Katich put on 88 runs for the opening wicket. Unlike the first essay, the visiting batsmen played spin with more confidence.

S Tyagi, who bagged four wickets for 42 runs, and Parmar, took

two wickets, were the home team's bowling heroes in the second innings.

Scorecard

India 'A' (1st innings):
Robin Uthappa c Casson b McGain 22
Ajinkya Rahane c Ronchi b Bollinger 6
Parthiv Patel lbw b McGain 13
S Badrinath b McGain 10
Mohd Kaif c Bollinger b North 94
Virat Kohli c Katich b Bollinger 49
Piyush Chawla b Noffke 66
Vinay Kumar lbw Bollinger 0
Mohnish Parmar lbw Bollinger 0
D S Kulkarni c & b Siddle 6
S Tyagi not out 0
Extras: (lb-2, nb-16) 18
Total: (all out in 89.4 overs) 284

Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-46, 3-48, 4-90, 5-185, 6-237, 7-261, 8-267, 9-280.

Bowling: Doug Bollinger 21-6-59-4; Ashley Noffke 19.4-4-67-1; Bryce McGain 17-5-51-3; Peter Siddle 15-6-27-1; Beau Casson 1-0-07-0; Marcus North 13-1-53-1; Adam Voges 3-0-18-0.

Australia 'A' (1st innings):
P J Hughes b Kulkarni 1
S M Katich lbw b Parmar 22
A C Voges b Tyagi 0
M J North b Chawla 41
G J Bailey c Rahane b Parmar 38
L Ronchi lbw b Chawla 2
A A Noffke lbw b Parmar 1
P M Siddle run out (Chawla) 0
B Casson lbw b Parmar 4
B E McGain lbw b Chawla 0
D E Bollinger not out 2
Extras: (lb-1, w-1, nb-3) 5
Total: (all out in 46.2 overs) 116

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-7, 3-45, 4-87, 5-89, 6-92, 7-99, 8-113, 9-114.

Bowling: D S Kulkarni 7-1-15-1, S Tyagi 5-2-16-1, R Vinay Kumar 6-3-08-0, M B Parmar 16.2-3-37-4, P P Chawla 12-3-39-3.

Australia 'A' (2nd innings):
P J Hughes c Patel b Parmar 43
S M Katich b Badrinath 56
A C Voges c Tyagi b Parmar 9
M J North c Badrinath b Tyagi 88
G J Bailey lbw b Tyagi 29
L Ronchi b Tyagi 5
A A Noffke not out 2
B Casson b Tyagi 1
P M Siddle not out 00
Extras: (B-16, LB-7, W-7) 30
Total: (7 wickets in 81 overs) 263

Fall of wickets: 1-88, 2-108, 3-144, 4-228, 5-253, 7-258, 7-263.

Bowling: D S Kulkarni 10-5-27-0, S Tyagi 11-2-42-4, P Chawla 21-2-71-0, R Vinay Kumar 6-0-24-0, M B Parmar 25-7-55-2, S Badrinath 08-3-21-1.