Remodelled action gets Ojha three wkts against Aus 'A'

Pragyan Ojha celebrates after picking a wicket during the unofficial Test against Australia 'A' in Chennai. Photograph: BCCI

Back in the mix after a year-and-a-half, left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha justified the selectors' faith in him by rocking Australia A's top-order on Day 2 of the first unofficial Test in Chennai on Thursday.

He claimed three quick wickets before the visitors ended the day on 185 for four wickets.

Bowling with a remodelled action, he had figures of 3 for 52, having reduced the Aussies from 57 for 1 to 75 for 4 in the space of 23 deliveries at one stage.

Marcus Stoinis (batting 42) along with Peter Handscomb (batting 75) conjured up an undefeated 110-run stand for the fifth wicket to stem the rot.

Another interesting aspect of Ojha's bowling was him wearing half-sleeves, without any elbow protection, unlike the Duleep Trophy final last year.

Vijay Shankar hits one towards the fence during the unofficial Test against Australia 'A' in Chennai. Photograph: BCCI

Earlier, India A were all out for 301 in their first innings, having begun the day at the overnight score of 221 for 6.

While talented Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar (51) had an impressive 'A' team debut, adding 62 runs for the seventh wicket with comeback man Amit Mishra (23), the last four wickets fell for a mere 18 runs as the home side folded for 301 in 114.3 overs.

Shankar was unbeaten on 51 off 135 balls, inclusive of five fours and a six.

Steve O'Keefe was the most successful Australian bowler with figures of 6 for 82 in 31.3 overs.

Steve O'Keefe bowls during the unofficial Test against India 'A'. Photograph: BCCI

When Australia 'A' batted, opener Cameron Bancroft (20) nicked one off Abhimanyu Mithun to Naman Ojha behind the stumps.

Skipper Usman Khawaja (25) and Travis Head (31) added an even 50 for the second wicket before Ojha ran through the top order.

Head went as Mishra snapped him up off Ojha's bowling.

In the 24th over, Ojha got two wickets; Khawaja was caught at deep mid-wicket by Abhinav Mukund and Nic Maddinson by Karun Nair.

However, Handscomb played a patient unbeaten innings, facing 137 balls, hitting six fours.

Stoinis, who had a contract with Delhi Daredevils during the last season of the IPL, scored 42 off 87 balls, including five fours and a six.

Having come together at the start of the 25th over, the duo played out 34 overs together.

Mishra, who earlier on Thursday made a comeback to Test side for the tour of Sri Lanka, bowled 16 tight overs for 33 runs, but did not get a wicket on the day.

Scorecard

India A (1st innings): (Overnight 221 for six):

Vijay Shankar not out 51

Amit Mishra lbw b O'Keefe 27

Abhimanyu Mithun c Abbott b O'Keefe 0

Umesh Yadav c Stoinis b O'Keefe 1

Pragyan Ojha c Handscomb b O'Keefe 2

Extras: (B-5, LB-2, NB-4) 11

Total: (all out in 114.3 overs) 301

Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-127, 3-132, 4-187, 5-214, 6-221, 7-283, 8-283, 9-289, 10-301

Bowling: Sandhu 20-8-56-1, Fekete 20-6-42-2, Abbott 24-7-52-1, O'Keefe 31.3-8-82-6, Stoinis 14-4-40-0, Head 5-1-22-0

Australia 'A' (1st innings):