Patidar’s lone hand not enough as Australia-A clinches series

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Philippe struck eight fours during his run-a-ball knock. | Photo Credit: CAP

Rajat Patidar’s solo fight went in vain again as India-A lost the second one-dayer to Australia-A by 69 runs at the Cricket Association Pondicherry Siechem Ground on Friday.

The Madhya Pradesh batter (67, 82b, 3x4, 1x6) held firm through the middle overs to keep the host in contention in the chase of 276, but once he fell, the challenge withered away. India-A was eventually bowled out for 206, handing Australia-A an unassailable 2-0 lead.

After choosing to bat in the morning, the away team’s brisk start through Mitchell Owen was cut short by a smart slower ball from Yash Thakur. Sam Konstas and Josh Philippe manipulated the field placements to pick up boundaries fairly regularly in a 101-run second-wicket partnership. But, the older ball proved difficult to score off, and Australia-A folded for 275 off the penultimate delivery.

If brute pace dismissed the India-A openers in the first one-dayer, the lack of it proved fatal this time round. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad treated the fans, who braved the sun to fill the stands, to three sumptuous cover drives before a diving catch at deep backward point brought his innings to a sudden halt.

With three batters back in the hut in the first PowerPlay, it was left to Patidar to stitch crucial partnerships. But he mistimed a pull shot off left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson (three for 35) straight to deep square leg and there ended India-A’s hopes.

The scores: Australia-A 275 in 49.5 overs (Sam Konstas 67, Josh Philippe 58) bt India-A 206 in 45.2 overs (Rajat Patidar 67). Toss: Australia-A. PoM: Johnson.

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