Bancroft leads Aus A to tight win over India A

Australia A opener Cameron Bancroft scored a responsible 58 in his team's chase of 159 on Day Four to help defeat India A by three wickets at Allan Border Field on Sunday.

Cameron Bancroft shepherded his team's chase with useful partnerships middle and lower order batsmen.

Opener Cameron Bancroft steered Australia A to a three-wicket victory in the unofficial 'Test' over India A by scoring a responsible half-century in his team's chase of 159. Despite a delayed start to the fourth day due to a wet outfield following heavy rain, the host found time to chase down the target on the fourth day.

Bancroft's knock of 58 off 151 balls, was laced with half a dozen fours. Beau Webster, the middle-order batsman, returned to the crease on Sunday with Bancroft, scoring 30 off 87 balls, before being trapped leg before by Varun Aaron. Play was abandoned on Saturday due to rain with Australia A requiring 100 runs to secure a victory and six wickets still in hand.

Earlier on Day Three, the host had bowled India A out for 156 to end its second innings just before the lunch break. Australia’s three pace bowlers (David Moody, Chadd Sayers and Daniel Worrall) snared three wickets each, with Mitch Swepson grabbing the other to accumulate five for the match.

For India, Shardul Thakur picked up three wickets, while Aaron chipped in with 2 scalps. Australian captain Peter Handscomb was named Player of the Match following his first-innings performance of 87 runs off 93 balls. The second four-day match of the Quadrangular series will commence in Brisbane on Thursday.

Brief Scores:

India A: 230 and 156

Australia A: 228 and 161/7 in 57.3 overs (Cameron Bancroft 58 not out, Shardul Thakur 3/42).