Onus on India-A batters to force a decider

After being torn apart by the pace of the Australia-A bowling attack in the first encounter, India-A will look to bounce back and force a decider when the sides meet in the second one-dayer at the Cricket Association Puducherry Siechem Stadium here on Friday.

Chasing a target of 275 under the lights, the Indian top-order was undone by the pace and hard lengths executed by Mahli Beardman. There was a small shoot of recovery during the partnership between Rajat Patidar and Nishant Sindhu but despite batting deep, the team could only muster 149 before being bundled out in the 32nd over.

Australia-A too will have some introspection to do. Nathan McSweeney and captain Will Sutherland managed to lift it to 274 but attempting cross-batted shots on pitch where the ball reared from back-of-a-length posed a continuous problem throughout.

There was also some reverse swing on offer with the old ball towards the end of the second PowerPlay in both innings. Beardman told after the game that the ball was moving more prodigiously under lights so it remains to be seen if the same assistance will be available in a day game.

Spinners Sindhu, Anukul Roy and Vipraj Nigam bowled in the nets on the eve of the game. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad will hope he can rely on the the trio to prise out wickets through the middle overs, the phase where India-A let the game slip away from its grasp in the opener.

Match begins at 9 a.m.