Test batter Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra and Tanush Kotian scored dogged fifties as India A survived early blows to register a satisfying 257 for five against Australia A on the opening day of the first four-day match here on Tuesday. Kotian (68 batting, 134 balls), who added 138 runs for the sixth wicket with Kushagra (82, 160 balls), and Shams Mulani (10, 43 balls) are holding the fort at stumps. Sudharshan too made his return from a more than month-long injury layoff memorable with a 57 off 103 balls.

But the hosts were tottering at 97 for five, about half an hour into the second session of the day before finding saviours in Kotian, an India A regular and Kushagra. The in-form Kushagra, who made a hundred for East Zone in the recent Duleep Trophy final at Chennai, resisted the more accomplished attack of Australia A, which featured Test bowlers Brendan Doggett and Todd Murphy in the playing eleven.