Harris Shines, Rahul Fails as Australia A Dominates Day 2 at MCG
Sai Sudharsan and Rahul also fell cheaply. Rahul's dismissal was especially striking—he attempted to pad away a delivery from Rocchiccioli, but the ball sneaked through a gap in his legs and dislodged the stumps, highlighting his ongoing struggles in the middle.
Harris Boosts Test Recall Hopes
Harris, eyeing a Test recall, impressed with a patient 74. The 32-year-old’s innings was a standout on a difficult pitch, with only one other player managing to pass 35. His composed knock, after a string of starts earlier in the season, showcased his ability to weather difficult conditions. Harris found support from Jimmy Peirson (30) and Nathan McAndrew (26), who played valuable cameos to help Australia A reach 223, despite strong bowling efforts from India A's Prasidh Krishna (4-50) and Mukesh Kumar (3-41).
Krishna’s Persistence and Rahul's Misfortune
Prasidh Krishna continued his solid tour, taking four wickets, including the crucial scalp of Peirson. India A’s prospects were dampened by another disappointing performance from KL Rahul, who was dismissed cheaply for just 10. Rahul’s dismissal was a bizarre one—trying to pad away a ball going down leg side, he was bowled off his inner thigh by offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli.
Australia A's Gritty First Innings Lead
Despite early setbacks—Nathan McSweeney and Cameron Bancroft falling cheaply—Harris remained solid, building partnerships with Peirson and others. He survived a contentious umpire decision and several tight moments but batted with control, playing mainly under his eyeline and waiting for loose deliveries. His 74 was the foundation of Australia A’s total, and it proved invaluable with only a handful of other players contributing significantly.
India A's Collapse
India A, trailing by 62 runs, faced another collapse in their second innings, slipping to 73 for 5 by stumps. McAndrew and Beau Webster did the damage, with McAndrew claiming three wickets, including that of Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was trapped lbw. Sai Sudharsan and Rahul also fell cheaply. Rahul's dismissal was especially striking—he attempted to pad away a delivery from Rocchiccioli, but the ball sneaked through a gap in his legs and dislodged the stumps, highlighting his ongoing struggles in the middle.
Devdutt Padikkal and Abhimanyu Easwaran also couldn’t get going, leaving India A in dire straits, trailing by just 11 runs at the close of play.
The Final Session and India A's Outlook
Despite some resistance from Dhruv Jurel (19*), India A is left with much work to do on Day 3. The Indian side’s collapse has highlighted issues, especially with Rahul’s continued failure, raising questions about his future selection. With the pitch still offering assistance to the seamers, India A will need a strong effort from their remaining batsmen to avoid a heavy deficit.
In contrast, Australia A has gained the upper hand, with the potential for further breakthroughs and a solid lead built on Harris's gritty innings.
