Konstas, Webster knock helps Australia A beat India A by six wickets, win series 2-0
An unbeaten 73 from teenaged batter Sam Konstas and 46 not out from Beau Webster helped Australia A beat India A by six wickets in the second four-day game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and win the series 2-0.
Earlier, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel gave some hope to India A with a gritty 68 off 122 balls, his second fifty of the game coming under pressure. He was supported by contributions from Nitish Kumar Reddy (38), Tanush Kotian (44), and Prasidh Krishna (29) in a lower-order rearguard act, as India A were bowled out for 229 in 77.5 overs.
India A’s hopes of a win rose when Krishna removed Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft for golden ducks in defense of 168. With Nathan McSweeney and Oliver Davies falling, Australia A were reduced to 73/4. However, Konstas played an important half-century knock to anchor the chase, with support from Webster.
In the morning session, Jurel and Reddy had combined for a 94-run stand for the sixth wicket, frustrating the Australian bowlers before Corey Rocchiccioli dismissed Jurel, who holed out to cow corner. Before his dismissal, Jurel had strengthened his case for a middle-order spot in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a mix of expansive strokeplay and solid defense.
After Webster removed Reddy for 38, Kotian and Krishna stuck around with useful knocks, but Rocchiccioli and captain McSweeney took the remaining wickets, with Rocchiccioli finishing with figures of 4-74 from 23.5 overs.
In the chase, Harris was dismissed for a duck when his extravagant drive inside-edged into the hands of Jurel, followed by Bancroft being trapped lbw with a stunning yorker from Krishna. With Mukesh Kumar and Kotian dismissing McSweeney and Davies, Australia A were in trouble. However, Konstas and Webster steadied the ship with timely knocks, seeing Australia A over the line.
With the second four-day game now complete, the Australia squad for the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test is expected to be named soon. The series opener will be played at Perth Stadium on November 22, followed by matches in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Brief scores: India A 161 and 229 (Dhruv Jurel 68, Corey Rocchiccioli 4-74, Beau Webster 3-49) lost to Australia A 223 and 169/4 (Sam Konstas 73* not out, Beau Webster 46* not out; Prasidh Krishna 2-37) by six wickets.
