Niki Prasad’s all-round show helps India A Women wrap up unofficial Test in three days

The only unofficial Women’s Test between India A and Australia A was wrapped up within three days, with India A registering a thumping 281-run win in Mohali on Thursday. As many as 18 wickets fell on Day 3, with spinners from both sides running through the batting line-ups.

India A began the day on 134/2, already leading by 322 runs. However, the visitors’ spinners rattled the home side, who managed to add only 123 runs for their next eight wickets. Skipper Yastika added 13 to her overnight score before being dismissed for 46. At one stage, India A were in danger of being bowled out for under 200 after slipping to 188/7.

A gritty 48 off 91 balls from Anushka Sharma, followed by a crucial 24 off just 14 balls from Vaishnavi Sharma, took India A to 257, setting Australia A a mammoth target of 446.

The spin trio of Lilly Mills, Charli Knott and Frankie Nicklin took all 10 wickets, with Mills claiming five, Nicklin four and Knott one. Mills finished the match with nine wickets overall, constantly troubling the India A batters across both innings.

Australia A made a decent start to their chase, with a 51-run opening stand between skipper Rachel Trenaman and Tahlia Wilson. But following Wilson’s run-out for 28, the India A spinners seized the momentum and triggered a collapse.

Australia A lost seven more wickets for just 29 runs, crumbling to 80/8. Just when it seemed India A would prevent the visitors from reaching three figures, Tess Flintoff and Mills put up a gritty fight.

The duo added 74 runs for the ninth wicket, with Mills facing 99 balls. They frustrated the India A bowlers and made them toil for another wicket for 31.2 overs. Eventually, however, the spinners broke their resistance to ensure the game did not go into a fourth day.

Mills was dismissed for 32, while Flintoff fell for 58 off 146 balls as Australia A were bowled out for 164.

Niki Prasad produced a stunning five-wicket haul with her off-spin, while Vaishnavi claimed three wickets and Shuchi Upadhyay chipped in with one. Niki was named Player of the Match for her all-round contribution, scoring 95 runs and taking seven wickets – 2/27 in the first innings and 5/50 in the second.

Brief Scores: India A Women 364 & 257 (Anushka Sharma 48, Lilly Mills 5/88) beat Australia A Women 176 & 164 (Tess Flintoff 58, Niki Prasad 5/50) by 281 runs.

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