In-form Naman Ojha struck his third successive century while No.10 batsman Umesh Yadav smashed a quickfire 90 to give India 'A' the upperhand against Australia 'A' on Day 3 of the second unofficial Test at Allan Border Field, in Brisbane, on Tuesday.
Ojha, who had scored a double ton and a century in the first match, hit 18 fours and three sixes in his 110-run innings to help India 'A' notch up 501 in response to the hosts' first innings score of 423 for a first innings lead of 78 runs.
Yadav, who took five for 83 with the ball, came up with an important innings with the bat to help India 'A' cross the 500-run mark and keep their hopes alive of pushing for victory on the fourth and final day.
Resuming on their overnight score of 165 for three on Day 3, India 'A' slumped from 165 for three to 199 for five before Ojha (110) took charge and put up a 69-run partnership with Ambati Rayudu (40).
Aussie pacer Chadd Sayers (5/84), who had picked the first three wickets on Monday, continued his surge by sending overnight batsmen Manoj Tiwary (63) and Baba Aparajith (28) in the morning session.
Amit Mishra also played a good hand with the bat, scoring 36 as he put on 80 runs for the seventh wicket with Ojha.
Yadav, who surprisingly looked assured in his stroke-making, took the attack to the opposition as he struck 11 fours and five sixes in his 66-ball knock and stitched a vital 88-run last-wicket partneship with medium-pacer Jasprit Bumrah (16 not out).
New-ball bowler Ben Cutting (4/100) also made an impact to trouble the India 'A' middle-order as the medium-pacer got the all-important wickets of Ojha, Mishra, Anureet Singh (8) and Yadav but the damage had already been done.
Aussie openers Phil Hughes (0) and Alex Doolan (0) came out to face just one delivery before bad light stopped play for the day.
The first match had ended in a high-scoring draw.
Scorecard:
Australia 'A' first innings: 423 all out in 122.4 overs (B Cutting 96, J Faulkner 94, P Forrest 77, U Yadav 5-83, A Mishra 4-142)
India 'A' first innings (Overnight score: 165/3)
R Uthappa c Lynn b Sayers 10
KL Rahul b Sayers 52
Jiwanjot Singh c Whiteman b Sayers 29
B Aparajith c Faulkner b Sayers 28
M Tiwary b Sayers 63
A Rayudu c Lyon b Marsh 40
N Ojha c Sayers b Cutting 110
A Mishra c Forrest b Cutting 36
Anureet Singh c Whiteman b Cutting 8
U Yadav c Lynn b Cutting 90
J Bumrah not out 16
Extras (b 6, lb 6, w 2, nb 5) 19
Total (all out in 132.2 overs) 501
Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-90, 3-96, 4-177, 5-199, 6-268, 7-348, 8-389, 9-419, 10-501.
Bowling: B Cutting 26.2-5-100-4, C Sayers 30-8-84-5, M Marsh 12-2-26-1, N Lyon 30-2-147-0, J Faulkner 10-2-20-0, C Boyce 23-4-101-0, P Forrest 1-0-11-0.
Australia 'A' second innings:
P Hughes not out 0
A Doolan not out 0
Total (0 wickets in 0.1 overs) 0
Bowling: U Yadav 0.1-0-0-0.
Image: Naman Ojha
Photograph: Matt Roberts/Getty Images
