India A posted a first‑innings total of 334, anchored by Kumar Kushagra’s 113 off 240 balls, before Australia A’s batting line‑up crumbled to 171, 163 runs short, as the day’s play at Siechem Cricket Stadium drew to a close.
Shams Mulani was the chief architect of the Australian collapse, finishing with figures of four for 67 after a spell of swing and turn that left the top and middle order, which featured five capped players, floundering against lateral movement on a deteriorating pitch.
Jason Sangha, who entered the innings at 37 for three, tried to steady the ship with a brisk 46 off 64 balls, hitting five fours and a six. He opened his innings with consecutive sweep shots off Mulani before taking on the bounce from Tushar Deshpande, but his reverse‑sweep attempt two overs later resulted in a wicket.
Liam Scott briefly revived the Australian charge, hammering 14 runs off Tanush Kotian in three deliveries, yet his momentum was halted when Mulani induced a catch behind to dismiss him.
The final session saw the spinners claim the remaining wickets, but it was the quick bowlers who had already put Australia A eight wickets down. The rapid loss of wickets underscored the difficulty the visitors faced against the sideways movement offered by the pitch.
Kushagra’s century, his seventh first‑class ton, came after an hour‑long grind and was eventually ended when a delivery from Corey Rocchiccioli, which spun sharply outside off‑stump, struck his leg stump. His innings, though solid, could not prevent the massive deficit.
With a 163‑run lead, India A now hold a commanding position heading into the next innings, while Australia A must regroup and find a way to bridge the gap in what promises to be a tightly contested series.