Vaishnavi Sharma runs riot on Australia A with sizzling 6-fer as India A take robust 322-run lead in one-off unofficial Test

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Vaishnavi Sharma runs riot on Australia A with sizzling 6-fer as India A take robust 322-run lead in one-off unofficial Test. (Screenshot)
Vaishnavi Sharma runs riot on Australia A with sizzling 6-fer as India A take robust 322-run lead in one-off unofficial Test. (Screenshot)

A late-day half-century from Priya Punia (59 off 77 balls, 9 fours) pushed India A’s second-innings total to 134/2, stretching their overall lead over Australia A to a commanding 322 runs by stumps on day two of the unofficial women's Test. The home side gained complete control of the match after bowling out the visitors for a paltry 176 in their first innings. Earlier in the morning, India A wrapped up their own initial turn at the crease after resuming on 351/9, with Niki Prasad missing out on a century after falling for 91.

Australia A’s reply began brightly before unraveling completely. Openers Rachel Trenaman (44) and Tahlia Wilson (35) laid a solid foundation with a 66-run opening stand—the lone resistance in an otherwise disappointing batting display. Once that partnership was broken, left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma exploited the conditions brilliantly, utilizing the older ball to rip through the middle and lower order with impressive figures of 6/52. Supporting spells from Shuchi Upadhyay (2/46) and Niki (2/27) ensured the collapse was absolute, leaving Australia A well short of parity before India A turned the screw further with the bat.

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Talking about India's batting, an extra 13 runs were all they could muster on the second morning, extending their overnight tally to a final total of 364. Niki Prasad scored every one of those late runs before falling just nine short of a well-deserved century, becoming Lilly Mills’ fourth victim of the innings when she was dismissed for 91.

Australia A made a promising start to their response, as captain Rachel Trenaman (44 off 88) and Tahlia Wilson (35 off 61) combined for a solid 60-run opening stand. However, that foundation quickly gave way to a dramatic middle-order slide. Despite an unbeaten 24 from Nicole Faltum, who ran out of partners, the visitors succumbed to a devastating spell from India A's spin trio. Led by Vaishnavi Sharma’s six-wicket haul, alongside two-wicket contributions from both Niki and Shuchi Upadhyay, the spinners surrendered just 116 runs across the final nine wickets, bundling Australia A out for 176 and handing the hosts a commanding 188-run cushion.

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Refusing to yield control, India A maintained the pressure with another assertive performance in their second turn at the crease. Priya Punia and Shubha Satheesh (27) got the innings off to a flying start with a 60-run partnership, before Punia paired with captain Yastika Bhatia to construct a 74-run stand for the second wicket.

Punia’s brisk 59 off 77 deliveries came to an end just before the close of play, leaving India A in an unassailable position at 134/2 with a overall lead of 322 runs. Yastika will resume on day three unbeaten on 33, while Mills once again proved to be the lone thorn in the hosts' side by taking both second-innings wickets to fall.