Cutting, Boyce put Australia A on top against India A

Australia A tailenders frustrated India A bowlers as their lower order helped the hosts to take command of the second and final four-day match at the Allan Border Field here Monday.

Resuming Day 2 at 288/7, pacer Ben Cutting (96) and leggie Cameron Boyce (57) troubled the India A bowlers by striking a brisk 133-run partnership for the eighth wicket to take Australia A to a first innings total of 423. In reply, India A lost three wickets before halting at 165 at stumps, trailing by 258 runs.

Cutting pressed his claim as an all-rounder as he fell four shy of a century. He reached his 50 in 55 balls while Queensland teammate Boyce also raised his bat for a half-century before he mistimed Baba Aparajith (1/31) and was caught by Robin Uthappa.

Cutting went to lunch unbeaten on 96 having batted Australia A to a handy 420/8 but wasn't able to add to his score after the break. He was given out leg-before to quick Umesh Yadav, falling four runs shy of his second first class century.

Yadav claimed his fifth wicket when he bowled Nathan Lyon (1) for the final wicket, finishing with 5/83 from 29.4 overs while No.11 Chadd Sayers remained unbeaten on 2.

In reply, Uthappa (10) went early to medium pacer Sayers but Lokesh Rahul and Jiwanjot Singh combined for a steady partnership and saw India A to tea at 84/1.

Sayers struck again straight after the break to have Jiwanjot caught behind for 29. Rahul notched up his half-century but Sayers broke through his defences, shattering Rahul's stumps to dismiss him for 52.

At close of play, captain Manoj Tiwary (50 not out) and Baba Aparajith (20 not out) were at the crease.

Sayers took all three wickets for Australia A with a meticulous bowling spell of 3/22 from 14 overs.

Brief scores: Australia A 423 (Ben Cutting 96, James Faulkner 94, Peter Forrest 77; Umesh Yadav 5/83, Amit Mishra 4/142, Baba Aparajith 1/31) lead India A 165/3 (Lokesh Rahul 52, Manoj Tiwary not out 50, Jiwanjot Singh 29; Chadd Sayers 3/22).