IND-A vs AUS-A: Tilak Varma's gritty 94 in vain as Australia level series

Tilak Varma's valiant knock of 94 went in vain as Australia-A secured a nine-wicket win in 2nd unofficial ODI to level the series. In the rain-affected game, Tilak made a strong claim to be included in the ODI team with his wonderful knock but the Aussies came back strongly in the chase to win the match.

Coming into the contest on the back of his heroics in the Asia Cup final, the southpaw showcased his talent and proved his credentials as India-A could only muster 246 runs in the first innings as none of the batters could find the rhythm after shining in the first match. However, after a three-hour delay, Australia were given a revised target of 160 to chase in 25 overs via DLS method. The Aussies had gone into the rain-break at 48 for no loss in 5.5 overs.

Once they came out after the break, batting was far easier and Mckenzie Harvey (70 not out off 49 balls) and Cooper Connolly (50 of 31 balls) and made light work of the chase. The platform for the chase was setup by Jake



Fraser-McGurk, who scored 36 off 20 balls. The chase by the Aussies was completed in just 16.4 overs as the Indian bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught.

The Indian bowlers were hit for a total of 22 boundaries and six sixes during the chase with Arshdeep Singh conceding 44 off his four overs.

Abhishek Sharma was included in the team for the match, but he was dismissed for duck after holing in the deep. While the other batters were failing around him, Tilak continued to show his maturity as he came in at No.3 and stayed in the middle for 122 balls.

Shreyas Iyer, who scored a hundred in the first match, didn't survive for long as India were reduced to 17 for three at one stage. Tilak and Riyan Parag put on a 101-run stand with the latter scoring 58. Tilak stitched together 34 with Ravi Bishnoi and another 28 with Arshdeep before being the last man dismissed in the match.

The series decider will be played on Sunday, October 5.