What India 'A' openers couldn't do, the Aussies openers did.
Riding on Cameron Bancroft's brilliant 150, Australia 'A' posted an impressive 329/9 to gain a crucial 194-run first innings lead on Day Two of the second four-day unofficial 'Test' here on Thursday.
Bancroft shared a 111-run opening stand with skipper Usman Khawaja (33), to give a perfect start to the Australians after their bowlers bundled out India 'A' for a paltry 135 on Wednesday.
After the opening partnership, Bancroft stitched together another 107-run stand with Callum Ferguson (54) for the fourth wicket. It was Bancroft's fourth first-class century playing in his 23rd match.
As for the Indians, the spinners played their part in checking the other Australian batsman. The best bowler for the hosts was Baba Aparajith, who picked up 5/74. The off-spinner's flurry of wickets towards the end of the day did salvage some home for the hosts. Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, too, chipped in with three wickets.
The situation could've been better for India 'A' if not for two dropped chances by India Test captain Virat Kohli and Aparajith. Both of them dropped Ferguson on 14 and 25.
But the day belonged to Bancroft, whose patient 267-ball knock was laced with 16 fours and a six.
SCOREBOARD
India 'A' 1st innings: 135
Australia 'A' 1st innings (O/N 43/0): C Bancroft c Kohli b Aparajith 150, U Khajawa lbw P Ojha 33, J Burns c Mukund b P Ojha 8, P Handscomb c Kohli b P Ojha 0, C Ferguson c Nair b Gopal 54, M Stoinis st N Ojha b Aparajith 10, M Wade b Aparajith 11, S O'Keefe batting 6, G Sandhu st N Ojha b Aparajith 36, A Agar b Aparajith 6, A Fekete batting 0; Extras: (B1, LB8, W1, NB5) 15; Total (for 9 wkts; 103 overs) 329 Fall of wickets: 1-111 (Khawaja, 33.4 ov), 2-123 (Burns, 37.4 ov), 3-123 (Handscomb, 37.6 ov), 4-230 (Ferguson, 68.6 ov), 5-258 (Stoinis, 78.5 ov), 6-279 (Wade, 86.4 ov), 7-282 (Bancroft, 88.3 ov), 8-320 (Sandhu, 94.6 ov), 9-328 (Agar, 100.5 ov); Bowling: S Thakur 11-2-37-0, V Aaron 14-5-40-0, P Ojha 32-2-99-3, B Aparajith 23-3-74-5, S Gopal 22-2-69-1
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