IND A vs AUS A: Australia's next-gen pacer Mahli Beardman's 4-fer, discarded batter Nathan McSweeney's 123 stun Ruturaj Gaikwad's India A with 125-run win

Australia A started the One-Day series with a crushing 125-victory over Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India A. Featuring a side full of Indian ODI side hopefuls and Indian Premier League (IPL) stars, the hosts were bowled out for 149 I the run chase of 275 as 21-year-old Mahli Beardman wreaked havoc with a four-fer. Australia's Test discard made up for low scores in the red-ball series with a 123-run knock rescuing the visitors from 87/5. India A's top order failed to make a mark and Rajat Patidar's half-century was not enough to revive the run chase.

In Puducherry, Australia A skipper Will Sutherland won the toss and opted to bat first. Skipper Gaikwad benched an in-form wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra. The Indian side featured several all-rounders leading to Gurjapneet Singh warming the bench.

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Early in the innings, Mitchell Owen looked to attack straight away. He hit Arshad Khan for a six and a four in the first over. Then Sam Konstas hit Yash Thakur for two fours. Thakur did not take much time to strike. Owen lost his wicket despite a collision between Prabhsimran Singh and Nishant Sindhu. In his next over, he got the wicket of Konstas. He went for the pull shot but was caught by Patidar at mid-wicket. Then, Arshad got Josh Philippe caught at wide slip by Devdutt Padikkal. In the same over, Liam Scott would've been dismissed caught behind by Gaikwad did not go for a review. Australia had already lost three wickets for 30 runs in the fourth over.

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McSweeney was able to find the gaps and hit boundaries during first powerplay overs. Scott could not bat for long and was surprised by extra bounce generated by Sindhu. He departed in the 14th over for a 23-ball 15. India's next pace-bowling all-rounder dismissed Nikhil Chaudhary for a single-digit score. The Indian-origin cricketer was caught at backward point by Anukul Roy. Australia A lost half the side for 87 in the 17th over.

Sutherland, McSweeney rescue Australia A

After a sensational catch, Padikkal dropped one at slip off Vipraj Nigam. McSweeney got a reprieve in the 21st over when he was batting on 37. Then, Thakur was brought back into the attack. He produced a chance, Prabhsimran dived to his right but dropped the catch. McSweeney got his second reprieve when he was batting on 46. In the 26th over, McSweeney hit a boundary off Sindhu to reach his half-century from 72 balls. The partnership between McSweeney and Sutherland continued to grow. In the 27th over, Sutherland smashed Roy for a six and then took a single to complete his half-century from 54 balls.

Sutherland went on a rampage as he whacked left-arm spinner Roy for a hat-trick of sixes in the 39th over. But, he couldn't carry on and got bowled by Shedge for a 68-ball 77. He shared a 141-run partnership for the sixth wicket with McSweeney.

McSweeney scores patient century

In Shedge's next over, McSweeney reached his century from 118 balls. In the same over, Shedge struck twice to dismiss Todd Murphy and Spencer Johnson off consecutive deliveries. No boundary was scored from 44th to 47th over. McSweeney broke the shackles with two fours off Thakur. But, he ended up getting outsmarted by an off-cutter and got out caught behind. His knock of 123 from 135 deliveries featured 13 fours. This was McSweeney's List A career's second century. In the next over, Arshad ended Australia A's innings with Beardman's wicket. The visitors were bowled out for 274 in 48.2 overs. For India, Shedge was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets for 40 runs in seven overs. He was included in the side as replacement of Hardik Pandya who is yet to regain full fitness.

Beardman gets the new ball talking

In India A's run chase, Beardman took just four deliveries to strike. The young pacer's short ball got the better of Sai Sudharsan who was late on the pull shot. In the next over, Beardman struck twice. First, he dismissed Padikkal for a six-ball duck. He was caught at mid-off by Riley Meredith. Then, Prabhsimran went for the risky shot and was caught at point by Chaudhary. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 17 runs from nine deliveries including four fours. The top order returned to the hut with score reading 24/3 in four overs.

Patidar and Gaikwad looked to stitch a partnership. Left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson didn't let the partnership build. Gaikwad went for the wild shot and ended up getting caught by Chaudhary. He managed to score 15 runs from 30 balls. India A lost four wickets for 58 runs in the 13th over.

No support for Patidar

In the 20th over, Sindhu hit the first six of the innings off Murphy's bowling. After getting India past the 100-run mark, Sindhu departed as well. After a century, McSweeney delivered with the ball as well. He tossed it up and Sindhu ended up getting caught by Konstas at sweeper cover. He scored 31 runs from 43 balls. Shedge couldn't follow up the four-fer with a crucial knock. He was undone by Beardman's back of the length slower one.

In the 26th over, Patidar smashed Meredith for a six. He reached his half-century with a boundary off 50 deliveries. On the very next ball, Owen pitched it short, Patidar went for the pool shot and Konstas took an easy catch at deep mid-wicket. Patidar fell for a 51-ball 53 and with his dismissal India A's chance of reviving the run chase went down the drain.

Roy, known for his crucial knocks down the order, got run out after going for a non-existent second run. Vipraj Nigam couldn't carry on either and top-edged one off Murphy's bowling, falling for a 25-ball 13. Johnson returned to dismiss Khan for a four-ball duck to end the proceedings. India A were bowled out for 149 in 31.4 overs. They lost the match by a huge margin of 125 runs. McSweeney was adjudged ‘Player of the match’ as he scored a century and took a wicket.