Tilak Varma made a strong case for selection in India’s 50-over format with an impressive 94, but Australia A bounced back to win the rain-affected second List A game by nine wickets on Friday.
Riding high on his match-winning innings in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan, Tilak bolstered his reputation as a quality one-day batter in India A’s modest total of 246.
Following a three-hour rain delay, Australia A were set a target of 160 in 25 overs via the Duckworth-Lewis method.
The Australians were at 48 for no loss in 5.5 overs when the rain interrupted.
Post the break, batting became easier, and Mckenzie Harvey (70 not out off 49 balls) and Cooper Connolly (50 off 31 balls) completed the chase without much trouble, even after Jake-Fraser McGurk
(36 off 20 balls) provided a blazing start but was dismissed.
The target was chased down in 16.4 overs. The three-match series is now level at 1-1, with the decider scheduled for Sunday.
Indian bowlers conceded 22 fours and six sixes during the chase, with pacer Arshdeep Singh giving away 44 runs in four overs.
The national selectors included the season’s sensation Abhishek Sharma and Tilak as they consider long-term one-day options for opening and middle-order positions.
While Abhishek was dismissed off right-arm medium pacer Jack Edwards’ first delivery without scoring, Tilak stood tall with his 122-ball knock, which included five fours and four sixes.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer didn’t last long, scoring only eight, as India A were reduced to 17 for 3 at one stage.
However, Tilak, alongside youngster Riyan Parag (58 off 54 balls), added 101 runs for the fourth wicket to halt the collapse.
Another significant stand was the 34-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Tilak and Ravi Bishnoi, followed by a 28-run stand for the last wicket between Tilak and Arshdeep.
Tilak was the last man out, six short of a well-deserved century. For Australia A, Edwards claimed four wickets.
