IND A vs AUS A, 1st unofficial Test: Josh Philippe’s blazing hundred puts Australia-A in control

N. Jagadeesan and Abhimanyu Easwaran laid the foundation for India-A’s fightback before rain intervened, forcing an early end to the second day of the first unofficial Test against Australia-A at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday.

At Stumps, India-A was 116 for one in response to Australia-A’s commanding 532 for six declared. Jagadeesan was unbeaten on 50 off 95 balls alongside his Tamil Nadu teammate B. Sai Sudharsan, with the pair steady at the crease when play was halted just before Tea. After a steady drizzle for nearly an hour and a half, the day was called off.

India’s innings began brightly. Easwaran set the tempo despite a brief scare when a direct hit was referred upstairs, only for the third umpire to rule him safe. He found his rhythm quickly, rotated strike fluently, and pierced gaps for boundaries on both sides. Jagadeesan matched him stroke for stroke, opening with a crisp on-drive before threading another four straight down the ground. The duo complemented each other in an 88-run opening stand at more than four an over.

Easwaran’s innings ended on 44 when he chopped Liam Scott onto his stumps, but Jagadeesan carried on with Sai Sudharsan. The pair kept the scoreboard moving with sharp singles, while capitalising on loose deliveries. Jagadeesan reached a composed half-century before rain brought play to a close.

Earlier in the day, Australia’s batters tightened their grip with a punishing display. Resuming at 337 for five, the visitor added 195 runs in just 25 overs, headlined by Josh Phillipe’s blistering century and Xavier Bartlett’s late fireworks.

Phillipe, dropped on 26 by Jagadeesan — who took the gloves in place of Dhruv Jurel — made the most of his reprieve. He launched a counterattack from the outset, bringing up his fifty in 55 balls before tearing into the spinners. Harsh Dubey’s over went for 19, and Tanush Kotian’s next was hammered for 6, 4, 4, all in the midwicket to long-on arc. Phillipe reached his hundred off just 80 balls, an innings marked by proactive intent and clean striking.

He found support in Bartlett, who lived dangerously but struck freely after Khaleel Ahmed spilled a top edge at fine leg. The all-rounder smashed 39 off 24 deliveries, including two dismissive pulls off Gurnoor Brar and a slog sent into the empty midwicket stand against Krishna, adding 118 off just 62 balls with Phillipe for the sixth wicket before the declaration.

The lone bright spot for India with the ball came when Scott, who resumed on 47, was dismissed for 81 after mistiming a lofted drive to Shreyas Iyer at mid-off, giving Brar his reward. But overall, it was another taxing session for the bowlers on a flat surface, with even the second new ball only aiding Australia’s stroke play.

Published on Sep 17, 2025