Australia A posted 282 for 7 (Harper 101*, Sangha 46, Bhute 3-35, Mulani 3-77) versus India A
Sam Harper’s resilient century powered Australia A’s recovery after Nachiket Bhute and Shams Mulani had reduced them to 104 for 5 on day one of the second unofficial Test in Puducherry. Partnerships of 84 for the sixth wicket with Liam Scott and 89 for the seventh with Todd Murphy took the total to 282 for 7, with Harper unbeaten on 101. Apart from the disappointment of squandering a dominant position, India A were also concerned by a series of no‑balls from their bowlers; Bhute delivered seven, and Mulani an astonishing 14 in 28 overs. In the preceding unofficial Test, Mulani had bowled nine no‑balls in 34.1 overs while claiming a haul of 7 for 124.
Harper, a 29‑year‑old wicket‑keeper from Victoria, has been a senior player for more than ten years, but this was his first first‑class match outside the Sheffield Shield and outside Australia. Stepping into a crisis, he approached his innings with confidence, employing his feet against the spinners, reaching his half‑century in 65 deliveries and his century in 146 balls, his sixth first‑class hundred. He struck seven fours and three sixes.
Australia are presently without a reserve wicketkeeper in South Africa after Josh Inglis suffered a finger injury during the ODI series.
Scott (34 from 82 balls) and Murphy (33 from 91 balls) contributed supporting performances as Australia A rebuilt, and the touring side hopes Harper can inspire the lower order on the second morning to surpass 300.
Their prospects appeared bleak at the outset after choosing to bat first, when Vidarbha seamer Bhute and Mumbai left‑arm spinner Mulani reduced them to 16 for 3 in 12 overs. A tentative revival emerged through Nathan McSweeney (34 off 76 balls) and Jason Sangha, whose 81‑run partnership for the fourth wicket lifted the total before Sangha was dismissed by edging Mulani while four runs shy of a half‑century.
McSweeney soon departed after mis‑timing a powerful shot off Mulani, sending the ball to mid‑on, which brought Harper to the crease.