KL Rahul and B Sai Sudharsan struck spectacular centuries as India A registered a stunning five-wicket victory over Australia A while chasing a target of 413 to seal the two-match unofficial Test series 1-0 on Friday.
This was the sixth highest successful run chase in India’s first-class history, and Rahul’s form (176 not out, 210 balls, 16x4, 4x6) should be a cause for concern for the West Indians ahead of their two-match Test series against India starting next month. The highest chase remains in the name of West Zone when they achieved a target of 536 set by South Zone in the 2010 Duleep Trophy final.
Starting the fourth and final day from their overnight score of 169 for two, India lost Manav Suthar at 189. But Sudharsan (100, 172 balls) and skipper Dhruv Jurel (56) added 78 runs for the fourth wicket to keep India A in the reckoning.
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Sudharsan got his eighth first-class hundred, justifying his selection for the upcoming home Tests against the West Indies. However, the 23-year-old was dismissed by Australia off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli two balls after scoring a hundred. It brought together Rahul and Jurel at the crease and the two put on 115 runs for the fifth wicket.
Rahul, who had retired hurt on 74 on Thursday, brought up his 22nd first-class hundred in 136 balls, and the next 76 runs came in just 74 balls as India achieved the steep target quite easily. Rahul’s innings was a continuation of the fine form that he displayed against England in the recent five-match Test series while amassing 532 runs at an average of 53.20 with two centuries.
Jurel departed with the team score at 382, but by then the home side was well within sight of a fantastic win, which was completed by Rahul and Nitish Kumar Reddy (16 not out) a few minutes before tea.
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