Kushagra's hundred and Mulani's four-for put India A in command in Puducherry

Kumar Kushagra resumed a retired-hurt innings to reach 113 and Shams Mulani took 4-55 as India A tightened their grip on the first unofficial Test against Australia A in Puducherry

India A were bowled out for 334 in 117.3 overs at the Cricket Association Pondicherry Siechem Ground, a total that owed almost everything to a sixth-wicket stand of 138 built after the hosts had slipped to 97 for 5 on the opening afternoon.

Australia A's reply was in trouble from the start. By the third session of the second day the tourists were 156 for 9 from 53 overs, still 178 runs behind, with Shams Mulani taking four wickets and Tushar Deshpande two.

Kushagra, who had limped off on 82 on the opening day, came back to the middle on the second morning and carried the innings to a century.

A slide to 97 for 5

India A won the toss and chose to bat, and were 20 for 2 inside the first session. Lunch arrived with the score at 78 for 3.

The slide carried on after the interval. Aman Mokhade made 1, Devdutt Padikkal 3 and Shaik Rasheed 16, and the fifth wicket went down in the 35th over with only 97 on the board.

Sai Sudharsan, back in the side after a lay-off, was the exception, making 57 from 103 balls before he was removed by the offspin of Corey Rocchiccioli.

Kushagra and Kotian rebuild

Kushagra, batting at six, and Tanush Kotian then put on 138 for the sixth wicket and took the innings away from Australia A.

Kushagra had reached 82 from 160 balls with 10 fours when he hobbled off and retired hurt late on the opening day, leaving his return in doubt overnight.

Kotian, unbeaten on 68 from 134 balls at stumps, was out early on the second day for 69. India A had closed the first day on 257 for 5 from 89 overs and added 77 on the second morning.

Kushagra returned to bat and completed the hundred, finishing on 113 from 240 balls.

Rocchiccioli leads the Australian attack

Offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli was the pick of the visiting bowlers, adding to the 3-72 he held at the end of the first day to finish with four wickets.

Todd Murphy conceded 59 runs on the opening day and removed Padikkal, while Fergus O'Neill accounted for Mokhade.

The wicket had offered the quicks good carry on the first morning, and Australia A's early control was built on it before the surface slowed and the ball softened.

Mulani and Deshpande break the reply

Australia A lost their first wicket with nine on the board and were 40 for 4, and the innings never steadied from there.

Mulani, the left-arm spinner, sent down 17 overs for 55 runs with three maidens and took four of the wickets to fall. Tushar Deshpande bowled 13 overs, four of them maidens, for 32 runs and two wickets.

Wickets continued to fall at 85, 126, 131, 154 and 156, and the last pair were together with the deficit still at 178.

Sangha the main resistance

Jason Sangha top-scored for the tourists with 46 from 64 balls, and Liam Scott made 26 from 30.

With two days of the four still to play and a single wicket left to take, India A were in command of a match that opens a tour running to 11 October.

The second unofficial Test is also scheduled for Puducherry, beginning on 29 September.

Scorecard: India A 334 (117.3 ov; Kushagra 113, Kotian 69, Sudharsan 57; Rocchiccioli 4 wkts) lead Australia A 156 for 9 (53 ov; Sangha 46, Scott 26; Mulani 4-55, Deshpande 2-32) by 178 runs

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