Australia A defeated India A by 119 runs in the second ODI of the traingular series at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday.
After winning the toss, Australia A decided to bat first in the dry conditions.
Opening batsmen Joe Burns and captain Usman Khawaja put together 239 runs, giving the Aussies an advantage over the Indians.
Initially, Khawaja was the one who dominated the partnership with his flamboyant batting style. Later, Burns joined the party. Both the batsmen scored centuries. Khawaja was dismissed right after scoring his ton, even as Burns continued to play his shots to score score 154 runs from just 131 balls. He hit 14 sixes in his innings, and to be honest, did not spare any Indian bowler.
A late flourish from Australia A wicketkeeper Matthew Wade powered the Aussies who put up a total of 334 runs for the loss of four wickets.
India A had an uphill task, pitted as they were against a good Australian bowling lineup. India A skipper Unmukt Chand and Mayank Agarwal came out to begin the proceedings.
They started off slowly, but launched an attack on the Aussies soon, playing some good-looking shots all round the ground. But Agarwal got himself out while playing a cut shot and Karun Nair, who came to bat after him, repeated the same mistake by hitting the ball straight to the backward point fielder.
Chand and Kedar Jadhav scored gritty half-centuries during the marathon run chase but other batsmen kept on throwing their wickets away at regular intervals. Many batsmen started off well, but failed to rise to the occasion that demanded much more than just a good start.
India A were all out for 215 runs in 42.5 overs. Gurinder Sandhu was the pick of the bowlers from Australia A, taking four wickets for just 28 runs.
The next match will be played between India A and South Africa A.
