Bengaluru: In a rain-delayed spectacle that turned into a batting masterclass, India A unleashed a torrent of boundaries to thrash Australia A by a whopping 171 runs in the opening unofficial ODI on Wednesday, posting 413/8 before bundling out the visitors for a measly 242.
What was slated for September 30 got a fresh lease under October skies at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, but Mother Nature’s whims couldn’t dampen India’s firepower. Openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh set the tone with a blistering 135-run stand, Arya carving out a brisk 101 off 84 balls — adorned with 11 fours and five sixes — before falling to the seamers.
Enter Shreyas Iyer, the T20 exile seeking redemption, who authored a sublime 110 from 83 deliveries, peppered with 12 boundaries and four towering sixes. His third-wicket alliance with Riyan Parag — a swashbuckling 67 off 42 (five fours, five sixes)— yielded 132 runs, injecting turbo into the innings. Ayush Badoni’s late flourish of 50 off 27 balls ensured the hosts crossed 400, amassing 270 runs in boundaries alone: a staggering 39 fours and 19 sixes that left the Aussie fielders chasing shadows.
Chasing 414, Australia A flickered early, reaching 169/2, but India A’s bowlers triggered a collapse, snaring the last eight wickets for just 73 runs. Seamers and spinners alike reaped rewards in the carnage.
This emphatic win signals India’s bench strength ahead of the Border-Gavaskar series, with Iyer’s resurgence a timely reminder of his class. The Aussies will regret this abrupt awakening as the series intensifies.