India A end series on a high with 49-run win over Australia A

India A beat Australia A by 49 runs in the third one-day match in Puducherry to avoid a series sweep. Gurjapneet Singh, Yash Thakur and Nishant Sindhu led the bowling effort as Australia A were dismissed for 226

Puducherry: A clinical bowling performance, led by Gurjapneet Singh’s three-wicket haul and two wickets each for Yash Thakur and Nishant Sindhu, helped India A avoid a series sweep with a convincing 49-run victory over Australia A in the third and final 50-over match at the CAP Siechem Ground here on Sunday.

Defending a target of 276, India A bowled out Australia A for 226 in 46.2 overs. The visitors suffered a dramatic collapse, losing seven wickets for just 49 runs after reaching 177/3 at one stage.

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Left-arm pacer Gurjapneet used his variations effectively to finish with figures of 3/42, while right-arm fast bowler Thakur (2/38) and left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Sindhu (2/41) struck at crucial stages to seal the win for India A.

Earlier, after being asked to bat on a slow pitch with variable bounce, India A were bowled out for 275 in 49.3 overs, with a counter-attacking 85-run seventh-wicket partnership between Suryansh Shedge (66) and Vipraj Nigam (40) providing the impetus.

India A made a flying start, with openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh putting on 83 runs. However, Prabhsimran’s dismissal for 39 in the 11th over triggered a top-order collapse, as India A lost five wickets for 35 runs to slip to 118/5.

Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad attempted to steady the innings alongside Shedge, scoring 33 off 57 balls. However, Mitchell Owen dismissed the captain to leave India A struggling at 159/6. Vipraj then joined a determined Shedge to help the team reach 275.

Chasing 276, Australia A made an 82-run opening stand, led by Josh Philippe’s fluent half-century. Nigam provided the breakthrough by dismissing Philippe, and Liam Scott fell in the following over as India A tightened their grip on the match.

Nathan McSweeney (39) and Lachlan Shaw (31) added 58 runs for the third wicket, but India A’s bowlers maintained pressure at both ends.

After Shaw fell to Anukul Roy, Gurjapneet, Thakur and Sindhu ripped through the lower order. A timely run-out of Nikhil Chaudhary also helped India A wrap up the innings and secure a consolation victory, although Australia A won the three-match series 2-1.

Brief scores: India A 275 in 49.3 overs (Suryansh Shedge 66, Priyansh Arya 49; Ben Dwarshuis 3/38, Will Sutherland 3/44) beat Australia A 226 in 46.2 overs (Josh Philippe 56, Nathan McSweeney 39; Gurjapneet Singh 3/42, Yash Thakur 2/38) by 49 runs.