Manish Pandey blasted a quick-fire 76-ball 77 before Mitchell Swepson returned with a four-wicket haul to dismiss India A for 230 in their first innings against Australia A in the opening match of the unofficial four-day Test Series
India A was dismissed for 230 despite Manish Pandey's quick-fire 76-ball 77. File Pic
Brisbane: Manish Pandey (77) was the only Indian batsmen to capitalise on a bright opening stand of 74 from Akhil Herwadkar and Faiz Fazal as India A were bowled out for 230 on the opening day of four-day match against Australia A.'
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Electing to bat first on the Allan Border Field pitch with a light covering of grass the Indian openers had no issue confronting the bright pink Kookaburra ball as they took India A to 64-0 at lunch.
But in the second over after lunch, Herwadkar lost concentration playing a wild shot at a full wide ball just to edge in slip. Faizal dragged one on before Shreyas Iyer played a full toss straight back to the leg-spinner Mitch Swepson. At 118-3, Pandey decided to wrestle the initiative with some glorious stroke-play.
He upper cut the short ball with grace and drove the ball with brute power. Pandey scored briskly to bring up his fifty in just 52 balls. Along with Nair he added 70 as he went to tea unbeaten on 77 from 75 balls.
When asked about his aggressive knock Pandey said "this is how I normally bat back home in the Ranji trophy. I wanted to carry on my form from the ODI series and with the ball coming on to the bat it really suits my style." But first ball after tea proved to be the turning point of the day as Pandey edged one behind.
Seven wickets in a jiffy
The wicket triggered a collapse as India lost last seven wickets for just 42 runs. In reply Australia A were 25-0 at stumps. "Ideally we should have scored more runs we lost too many wickets after tea. Tomorrow hopefully bowlers will fight back."
"It was pretty similar to the white ball, it did not swing around as much as the SG does back home. The seam can be difficult to see but the ball barely moved today," said Pandey, while talking about the ball.
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