By Admin 
Manav Suthar’s usual modus operandi is to amble in diagonally and float the ball to seed doubt in the batter’s mind. On Tuesday, though, the left-arm spinner bowled quicker through the air without losing his bite, and it worked just as well.
He claimed five wickets on the opening day of the second ‘Test’ between India-A and Australia-A at the Ekana Cricket Stadium to keep the visitor to 350 for nine despite Nathan McSweeney’s 74 and Jack Edwards’ counterpunching 78-ball 88.
Edwards, batting at No. 7, was the only one to dominate Suthar. The 25-year-old struck a six over long-on and employed sweeps and reverse sweeps to keep the scoreboard moving. He punished Mohammed Siraj and raced to his fifty in 46 deliveries. Just short of a century, he miscued a leading edge off Gurnoor Brar to mid-off.
For others, Suthar was a handful on the mixed-soil pitch. He bowled Oliver Peake through the gate, had Cooper Connolly caught behind, and dismissed Josh Philippe for 39 with a return catch after being struck for three boundaries in an over.
Skipper Dhruv Jurel’s move to place himself at leg-slip worked when Will Sutherland glanced straight to him, before Corey Rocchiccioli’s miscued reverse slog sealed Suthar’s five-for.
Australia-A captain McSweeney played a patient hand, compiling stands of 86 with Sam Konstas, 46 with Peake, and 52 with Philippe. He eventually fell to Brar for 74, pulling to mid-wicket. Konstas, after dominating in the previous match, was subdued for 49 before Siraj found his edge.
Earlier, Prasidh Krishna removed Campbell Kellaway cheaply, and alongside Siraj, kept the openers quiet with disciplined new-ball spells after opting to field. But it was Suthar’s sustained threat that shaped the day, leaving India-A with the upper hand despite Edwards’ flourish.
The scores: Australia-A 350/9 in 84 overs (Sam Konstas 49, Nathan McSweeney 74, Jack Edwards 88, Manav Suthar 5/93) vs India-A; Toss: India-A.