Srikar Bharat’s splendid hundred and his century stand with Kuldeep Yadav put India A in command over Australia A in the second unofficial Test at Alur, Bengaluru, on Monday.
Bharat struck a brilliant 106 off 186 balls, which included 12 boundaries and a six, and together with Kuldeep (52) shared a crucial 113 runs for the eighth wicket to take India A to 505 all out in their first innings, in reply to Australia A's 346.
At stumps on Day 3, Australia were 38 for 2 in their second innings, still trailing India A by 121 runs.
Earlier, resuming the day on 223 for 3, India A lost captain Shreyas Iyer (42) first, cleaned up by Mitchell Marsh.
Then Bharat walked into the middle and built a 41-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Shubman Gill (50), who was bowled by Chris Tremain before lunch.
In the second session, India A lost two more wickets -- Krishnappa Gowtham (20) and Deepak Chahar (6) -- with the scoreboard reading 370 for 7.
But then Bharat and Kuldeep held the fort and stitched a fine stand to help India A post a mammoth total.
Ashton Agar (3/87) and Tremain (3/41) picked three wickets each for Australia A.
Australia A’s second innings began on a disastrous note, losing Kurtis Patterson and Matt Renshaw early.
Patterson (4) was picked by Gowtham while Renshaw (19) fell to Shahbaz Nadeem.
