Australia A vs India A: Prithvi Shaw takes a blinder to send back Tim Paine

The Indian A squad is currently involved in a 3-day practice match against their counterparts Australia A in the latter’s backyard. Drummoyne Oval located in Sydney is playing host to this battle between the two heavyweights. As the friendly affairs stepped into the second day of the match, it was the fast-bowlers who stole the spotlight with their robust swinging deliveries on the 22-yards.

The Indian bowling department is having a good day in their office as the kangaroos have been toppled to 286 at the cost of 8 wickets. The veteran speedster Umesh Yadav ripped off the Aussie top-order in the form of Joe Burns and Will Pucovski. Subsequently, the skipper Travis Head steadied the ship to a fifty-run stand against the lethal Indian pace troika.

Meanwhile, the budding talent Prithvi Shaw hogged the cricketing headlines as he grabbed a blinder leaving everyone on the field surprised. The young Mumbaikar took a stunner at square leg to remove Australia A skipper Tim Paine for 44. The brilliant catch broke the 102-run fifth-wicket partnership between all-rounder Cameron Green and wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine.

Talking about Prithvi’s performance with the willow, he remained off-colored. The 21-year-old had to show his back without troubling the score after facing only 8 deliveries.

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Match Summary

Winning the toss, the India A skipper Ajinkya Rahane chose to bat first. The opening duo- Prithvi Shaw and Shubhman Gill were sent back to the dressing room without scoring even a solitary run. Putting the Indian middle-order to a litmus test, the likes of Hanuma Vihari along with Cheteshwar Pujara passed the exam as they paved the foundation stone of posting a respectable total on the scoreboard. Later, the skipper Rahane proved his mettle scoring a scintillating century laced up with 18 fours and 1 six.

As the sun set down, the Indian team decided to declare the innings at 247/9. On the second day, Aussies suffered a heavy blow.  Eventually, Yadav and his troops plucked the much-needed early breakthroughs in the form of Joe Burns and Will Pucovski. As Day 2 went underway, the youngster Cameron Green produced an excellent century against a tough Indian bowling line up.

Currently, the Australia A team has taken the lead of 39 runs. The third and final day will witness a lethal battle between the bat and ball.