Australia A secured a comprehensive 69-run victory over India A in the second unofficial ODI, successfully sealing the three-match series with a game still to play. Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, the visitors posted 275 all-out in 49.5 overs, a total that proved insurmountable for the hosts as they were bundled out for 206 in 45.2 overs. Australia A’s total of 275 proved too many for India A as the visitors won the second unofficial ODI by 69 runs to seal the three-match series 2-0 with a game to spare.
The innings started aggressively through Mitchell Owen, who hammered 17 runs in the opening over from Arshad Khan. Despite his quick-fire 25 off 12 balls, he fell to Yash Thakur. Sam Konstas and Josh Philippe subsequently anchored the middle phase, stitching together a pivotal 101-run second-wicket stand. Philippe reached a half-century in 53 balls before being dismissed for 58, while Konstas continued his rhythm to score 67 off 88 deliveries. Although Australia A reached 207 for 3 in the 37th over, a late-innings slide—helped by Arshad Khan’s 3 for 56 and Yash Thakur’s 2 for 46—limited their final score. Building steadily through the middle overs and taking the score past 100 before accelerating, konstas and Philippe then settled the innings. Ending the 101-run stand, philippe brought up a 53-ball fifty and kept finding the boundary before he pulled one straight to mid-wicket for 58. Eventually falling for 67 off 88 balls, top-edging a pull to the keeper, konstas went on to make his own half-century. And Lachlan Shaw’s knock 25 ended when he skied one against Vipraj Nigam to deep mid-wicket, nathan McSweeney made a watchful 32 before he was run out in a mix-up. First adding 29 runs off 56 balls and then 46 with Nishant Sindhu for the fifth, patidar then top-scored with a controlled 67.
India A’s response suffered an early collapse, losing Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Ruturaj Gaikwad during the Powerplay. Riley Meredith removed Sudharsan with a short ball, while the others fell to sharp fielding and tight bowling. Rajat Patidar offered the primary resistance, constructing a controlled 67 to record his second half-century of the series, supported briefly by Nishant Sindhu.
Spencer Johnson proved the catalyst for India A’s downfall, finishing with figures of 3 for 35. He eventually claimed the crucial wicket of Patidar, caught at deep mid-wicket. From a vulnerable position of 134 for 6, the hosts struggled to build meaningful partnerships. Anukul Roy provided a late spark with an unbeaten 34, including two fours and two sixes, but the innings concluded when Mitchell Owen had Yash Thakur caught behind in the 46th over.
Final Score Summary: Australia A 275 all-out (Sam Konstas 67, Josh Philippe 58; Arshad Khan 3-56) defeated India A 206 all-out (Rajat Patidar 67; Spencer Johnson 3-35, Riley Meredith 2-31) by 69 runs.
