India A vs Australia A, 2nd unofficial Test: Suthar stars with five-for but McSweeney, Edwards push Australia A to 350/9

Manav Suthar usually ambles in diagonally before floating the ball up just enough to seed doubt in the batter’s mind. On Tuesday, though, the left-arm spinner went quicker through the air without losing his bite, and it worked just as well.

Suthar finished with a five-wicket haul on the opening day of the second unofficial Test between India A and Australia A here at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, ensuring the visiting side was held to 350 for nine despite Nathan McSweeney’s calm 74 and Jack Edwards’ counterpunching 88 off 78 balls.

Edwards, batting at No.7, was the only one who looked comfortable against Suthar. The 25-year-old launched him over long-on for six and repeatedly employed sweeps and reverse sweeps to keep the scoreboard ticking. He reserved his best for Mohammed Siraj, punishing anything in his range and racing to a fifty in 46 deliveries. Just as a hundred loomed, Edwards miscued a leading edge off Gurnoor Brar to mid-off.

For the rest, Suthar proved a handful on the mixed-soil pitch. His first strike came when he spun one back through Oliver Peake’s gate after the left-hander had impressed with six crisp boundaries in his 29. In the very next over, he had Cooper Connolly edging behind, caught in two minds on the crease. Josh Philippe briefly countered with three boundaries in a single over but was undone soon after, chipping a return catch to give Suthar his third.

The spinner kept the stumps in play, and captain Dhruv Jurel’s move to station himself at leg slip paid off when Will Sutherland glanced straight to him. Suthar wrapped up his five-for by coaxing Corey Rocchiccioli into a miscued reverse slog that was held at first slip.

Even McSweeney, Australia A’s skipper, was forced into retreat against Suthar, defending stoutly and attacking the other bowlers instead. He compiled partnerships of 86 with Sam Konstas, 46 with Peake, and 52 with Philippe before falling to Brar for 74, pulling to midwicket.

Konstas, who had dominated in the previous match, was unusually restrained for his 49 off 91 balls until Siraj found his outside edge.

Earlier, Prasidh Krishna had dismissed Campbell Kellaway cheaply and, alongside Siraj, kept the openers quiet with disciplined new-ball spells. But it was Suthar’s sustained threat that defined the day, ensuring India A went to Stumps with the upper hand despite Edwards’ flourish.

Published on Sep 23, 2025