Australia A’s top order put on a powerful display after Jack Edwards led a superb bowling display, and the visitors won the rain-soaked second one-dayer in Kanpur by nine wickets to tie the three-match series. Riyan Parag scored a solid 58, while Tilak Varma led with 94. Edwards took four wickets, but India A lost wickets frequently and collapsed for 246. Australia A’s aim was changed to 160 in 25 overs after a weather delay, and they required just 16.4 overs to cross the finish line, driven by fifties from Mackenzie Harvey and Cooper Connolly.
Abhishek Sharma was knocked for a golden duck by Jack Edwards, and shortly after, Prabhsimran Singh was removed for one by Will Sutherland, rocking India A, who had chosen to bat. The hosts were in serious difficulty at 17/3 in the sixth over when Edwards delivered a devastating punch by dismissing captain Shreyas Iyer for 8. With a century stand, Riyan Parag and Tilak Varma pulled off a comeback, with Parag scoring a half-century. However, his firing to Sutherland created a new opportunity, and Edwards increased his influence by cheaply firing Nishant Sindhu.
Tilak put up a valiant fifty, but India A’s momentum was hampered by the opposition’s lack of support. Lachlan Hearne leg-before trapped Suryansh Shedge, bringing the home team down to 136/6. With a 13-ball 21 that included two sixes, Harshit Rana momentarily increased the pace, but his removal left India A reeling at 184/8 in the 35th over. However, Tilak remained steadfast and added 62 runs for the final two wickets with helpful lower-order support from Arshdeep Singh (10*) and Ravi Bishnoi (26). Tilak became Edwards’ fourth victim when he was bowled out with 4.1 overs remaining, just as he appeared to be on his way to a well-earned century.
With Jake Fraser-McGurk at the forefront, Australia A got off to a fast start in the chase, reaching 48/0 in just six overs. When play eventually resumed, the overs had to be shortened because of the prolonged rain. Fraser-McGurk kept up their good form, scoring the majority of the runs in a 57-run partnership with Harvey. Before being removed by Sindhu for a 20-ball 36, he hit seven fours and a six.
After that, Harvey and Connolly developed a solid working relationship that gave Australia A firm command of the chase.
By the conclusion of the tenth over, Australia A were 92/1, and by the end of the fifteenth, they were 133/1. Harvey had gone over fifty, and Connolly was also hitting regular boundaries. In less than ten overs, the second wicket partnership created a century stand. Connolly finished with an undefeated fifty from thirty-one, striking five fours and three sixes as Australia A completed the victory in the seventeenth over. Harvey’s innings included two sixes and ten fours, and he finished with 70 not out off 49.
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