N Jagadeesan hit an unbeaten half-century to lead India A' confident reply in Australia A's huge first innings total after rain ended play early on Day 2 of the first unofficial Test at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday.
Jagadeesan played a responsible innings, scoring 50 not out from 95 to guide India A to 116/1 in 30 overs on another rain-curtailed second day in Lucknow. Only 55 overs were bowled on the second day because of rain.
Australia A continued their domination with the bat as they piled up a huge 532/6 declared in 98 overs in their first innings. Josh Philippe punished the Indian bowlers, hammering 123 not out from 87 balls, hitting 18 fours and four sixes, while Xavier Bartlett made a quickfire 39 not out from 24 balls.
For India A, spinner Yash Dubey picked up 3/141, while Gurnoor Brar picked up 2/87.
Abhimanyu Easwaran looked in good touch, scoring 44 off 58 deliveries while rotating the strike and probing gaps as he put on 88 runs opening wicket with Jagadeesan. However, he could not make most of the encouraging start, bowled by Liam Scott off an inside edge.
India Test pace Prasidh Krishna remained wicketless, giving away 86 runs in 16 overs.
On Day 1, the 19-year-old Sam Konstas slammed a quickfire century (104), while Campbell Kellaway (88) and Cooper Connolly (70) hit fifties.
All eyes will be on the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel on the third day as they aim for a good knock and impress the selectors ahead of the two-Test series against the West Indies next month.
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