Nathan McSweeney‘s 123 powered Australia A to a commanding 125-run victory against India A in the first unofficial ODI at Puducherry on October 6. Australia A posted 274 in 48.2 overs, and their bowlers then rolled through the home side for 149 in 31.4 overs to wrap up the contest well inside the final ten overs.
McSweeney’s knock was the centrepiece of the Australian innings. He combined with captain Will Sutherland at a critical stage to rebuild the innings and carry Australia A to a competitive total. Sutherland contributed 77, while Suryansh Shedge was the most effective of the India A bowlers with figures of 4-40.
Mahli Beardman was the standout with the ball in the chase, finishing with 4-23 to dismantle the India A batting order. Rajat Patidar top-scored for the hosts with 53, but once he departed after passing fifty, the lower order offered little resistance. India A were bowled out in the 32nd over, well short of the 275-run target.
How did Australia A recover from a shaky start?
Australia A’s innings opened at a brisk pace. Mitchell Owen struck a six and a four in the very first over, and Sam Konstas followed with boundaries in the second. India A hit back sharply, however. Owen mistimed a pull and was caught for 10, and Konstas was also undone by a short-pitched delivery, handing Yash Thakur his second wicket. Arshad Khan then removed Josh Philippe three balls later, leaving Australia A at 30/3 inside five overs.
Liam Scott and McSweeney steadied the innings with a useful stand before Nishant Sindhu ended the partnership by dismissing Scott. Nikhil Chaudhary departed three overs later, and Australia A were in deep trouble with five wickets already down. Sutherland joined McSweeney at that point, and the pair chose to bat deep rather than force the pace.
McSweeney took advantage of a reprieve to reach his fifty, and Sutherland settled in alongside him. Sutherland shifted gears by pulling Anukul Roy over the fence to bring up his own half-century, then targeted the same bowler in the next over with three successive sixes. McSweeney continued to accumulate and went on to complete his century, ensuring Australia A finished with a total worth defending.
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How did India A’s chase unfold?
India A’s reply fell apart from the outset. Sai Sudharsan gloved a Beardman delivery to the keeper for 1, and Beardman then removed both Devdutt Padikkal and Prabhsimran Singh in the same over, leaving India A at 24/3 and in immediate trouble.
Ruturaj Gaikwad provided brief resistance and Patidar kept the scoreboard moving with boundaries, but Spencer Johnson returned for his second spell and dismissed Gaikwad, removing India A’s most settled batter at that stage. Sindhu struck some boundaries before being caught in the deep, and no meaningful partnership developed thereafter.
Patidar fell after crossing fifty, and Beardman wrapped up his four-wicket haul by dismissing Shedge. With the lower order unable to offer any support, India A folded in the 32nd over for 149, handing Australia A a convincing 125-run win in the opening match of the series.
