IND-A vs AUS-A: Mulani spins Australia A into trouble after Kushagra’s ton
Shams Mulani weaved a web of spin around Australia A’s batters as India A took firm control on Day 2 of the first unofficial Test in Puducherry. With the pitch offering enough encouragement, the left-arm spinner picked his moments to strike and finished with 4/67 as the visitors were dismissed for 171.
Beyond Jason Sangha’s determined 46, there was little to cheer about for the visitors. None of the other Australia A batters could get past 30, and their inability to string together partnerships left them trailing India A by 163 runs.
India A’s pacers made the ball talk and struck early, paving the way for Mulani to work his magic with the old ball. The left-arm spinner ran through the middle order to finish as India A’s best bowler with figures of 4/67.
Regarded as one of the better players of spin, Peter Handscomb was beaten by the trajectory of the ball as he misjudged the length and lost his middle stump. Mulani outfoxed the Australia A batter on that occasion.
When a partnership was beginning to develop between Sangha and Liam Scott, Mulani produced an absolute peach to remove the latter. The delivery turned sharply from middle and leg to take the outside edge, with Kumar Kushagra taking a fine catch behind the stumps.
Mulani kept challenging both edges of the bat for the right-hand batters. He was relentless and, with Australia A losing wickets, a well-set Sangha tried to unsettle the Mumbai-based spinner with unorthodox shots. It eventually resulted in his downfall.
Sangha’s attempted reverse sweep was brilliantly taken by Tanush Kotian at point. Todd Murphy was the only left-hander dismissed by Mulani. Australia A’s tactic of counter-attacking the spinner did not bear fruit.
There was enough assistance from the pitch, which had plenty of footmarks, and Mulani made the most of it.
Mulani has been a consistent performer with both bat and ball for Mumbai. However, given the recent emergence of Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey in the Test scheme of things, a national call-up looks a long way off right now. Mulani, though, is a never-say-die character and will continue to churn out performances like this to push his case.
His spin twin, Tanush Kotian, who scored 69 with the bat, was poor in his first spell and leaked runs at seven an over before picking up a couple of wickets. As he did not look to be at his best, despite the pitch assisting the spinners, Devdutt Padikkal gave him only six overs.
One reason Kotian has slipped down the pecking order among India’s off-spinners is his inconsistency with his lines over the past year.
All three pacers, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj and Praful Hinge, impressed, especially with the way they bowled with the new ball. Australia A’s top order was troubled by the stump-line tactic employed by the India A pacers.
Campbell Kellaway and Sam Konstas were trapped in front by incoming deliveries. Nathan McSweeney got a beauty from Hinge, with the ball angling in before moving away slightly to uproot the stumps. The India A bowlers came up with a clear plan and executed it well.
Earlier in the day, in the first session, India A’s innings was wrapped up as Australia A took five quick wickets. However, they could not deny Kushagra his century.
A section of the ground was filled with young schoolgirls, who enjoyed Kushagra’s century and India A’s all-round bowling display.
Brief Scores: India A 334/10 in 117.3 overs (Kumar Kushagra 113, Tanush Kotian 69; Corey Rocchiccioli 4/97) vs Australia A 171 all out in 55.3 overs (Jason Sangha 46, Liam Scott 26; Shams Mulani 4/67) at stumps, Day 2. Australia A trail by 163 runs.
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