India A Women finished Day 2 of the only multi-day game against Australia A Women in a strong position in Mohali. After completing their first innings at 364, India bowled Australia A out for 176 in 63.4 overs. India then added 134 for 2 in 27.5 overs in their second innings. Their overall lead reached 322 runs by the time play ended. The day saw important contributions with both bat and ball as India kept Australia A under pressure throughout the contest. Yastika Bhatia was unbeaten on 33 when stumps were drawn.
India resumed their first innings on 351 for 9 and reached 364 before being dismissed. Niki Prasad, who was unbeaten on 78 overnight, went on to make 91 from 112 balls, with 14 fours and two sixes. Tanisha Singh also missed out on a century after scoring 92 from 166 balls, including 12 fours. Shubha Satheesh added 59 from 117 balls, while Priya Punia scored 46 from 65 balls. For Australia A, Lilly Mills took four wickets for 98 runs, while Charli Knott finished with three wickets for 82 runs.
Australia A found it difficult to put together a strong response and were eventually bowled out for 176. Rachel Trenaman was their leading scorer with 44 from 88 balls, while Tahlia Wilson made 35 from 61 balls. Nicole Faltum stayed unbeaten on 24 from 71 balls, but the lower order could not provide enough support. Courtney Webb scored 14, Charli Knott made 15 from 14 balls and Anika Learoyd contributed 12. Tess Flintoff scored 11, while Frankie Nicklin made 7 as Australia A’s innings ended after 63.4 overs.
Vaishnavi Sharma produced the standout bowling performance for India A, taking six wickets for 52 runs from 20.4 overs. She bowled five maiden overs and played a major part in restricting Australia A to a total of 176. Shuchi Upadhyay picked up two wickets for 46 runs from 13 overs, while Niki Prasad also took two wickets, conceding only 27 runs in her 17 overs. Sayali Satghare bowled eight overs for 27 runs without taking a wicket. Shabnam Shakil also went wicketless, finishing with 19 runs from five overs.
Australia A lost wickets regularly after reaching 66 for 1, with Wilson dismissed for 35 and Trenaman falling after making 44. Knott followed for 15, while Learoyd was removed for 12. Webb then departed for 14, leaving Australia A at 148 for 6. Flintoff scored 11 before becoming another wicket, while the final three batters could not add enough runs to extend the innings. Sianna Ginger was dismissed for a duck, Milly Illingworth made 5 and Lilly Mills scored 4. Australia A were all out for 176.
India began their second innings positively and reached 60 before losing Shubha Satheesh. She scored 27 from 50 balls and hit three fours before being caught by Ginger off Mills. Priya Punia then took charge and made 59 from 77 balls, striking nine fours during her stay. She was the second wicket to fall, caught by Faltum off Mills with India on 134. Yastika Bhatia remained unbeaten on 33 from 40 balls, hitting six fours. India ended the day at 134 for 2 after 27.5 overs.
India A therefore carried a 322-run lead into the end of Day 2, putting themselves in control after another productive day. Their first-innings total of 364 was followed by Australia A’s 176, before India added another 134 runs in their second innings. Vaishnavi’s six-wicket haul was the biggest bowling contribution, while Niki Prasad, Tanisha Singh and the other batters helped India build the advantage earlier in the day. With Yastika unbeaten on 33, India will resume with their lead already standing at 322 runs.
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