IND A vs AUS A: Konstas special helps Australia beat India in 2nd unofficial Test

Sam Konstas' unbeaten 73 guided Australia A to a six-wicket victory over India A, securing a 2-0 sweep in the unofficial two-match Test series on Saturday.

In Short

• Australia A beat India A by six wickets to clinch the series 2-0
• Sam Konstas played an unbeaten 73-run knock for Australia A
• Konstas took the responsibility of anchoring the innings

Young opener Sam Konstas's unbeaten 73-run knock powered Australia A to a six-wicket victory over India A in the second unofficial Test at the MCG, clinching the two-match series 2-0. The 19-year-old showcased his skill and composure with an unbeaten 73, leading Australia A home in a challenging fourth-innings chase.

Australia A, needing 168 to win, found themselves in trouble early on. Prasidh Krishna set the tone for India A by dismissing Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft for ducks in consecutive balls in the first over, giving India a promising start. With Nathan McSweeney (25) and Ollie Davies (21) also falling cheaply, Australia A was reduced to 73 for 4, leaving the match in a precarious position.

Coming in at No. 4, Konstas took the responsibility of anchoring the innings and built a match-winning 96-run partnership with Beau Webster, who contributed a steady 46 not out. Konstas’ innings displayed a maturity well beyond his years as he absorbed the pressure early, defending solidly, and later shifting gears to punish loose deliveries as the target drew near.

India A, who had earlier fought to set a competitive target, had standout performances from Dhruv Jurel, who registered his second half-century of the match, and Prasidh Krishna, who scored a valuable 29 in the lower order. Support from Nitish Kumar Reddy and Tanush Kotian also helped extend India's lead after a middle-order collapse on day three threatened to end the match early.

Prasidh’s early breakthroughs in the final innings were followed by a controlled spell from Mukesh Kumar, who dismissed McSweeney with a delivery that nipped away off the pitch, catching the edge and further unsettling Australia’s top order. But Konstas’ disciplined approach shut down India A’s hopes, as he patiently deflected the ball, pulled Prasidh for boundaries, and danced down to Kotian to clear the field.

Beau Webster complemented Konstas perfectly, recovering from a tentative start to lend stability and stroke powerful shots, helping to ease the pressure of the chase. Together, the pair found the boundary 13 times and scored swiftly enough for umpires to grant an extra half-hour, allowing them to seal the win on day three itself.

For India A, Prasidh Krishna’s new-ball spell and Dhruv Jurel’s resilience with the bat will encourage, especially as both players showcased skills that may bolster India’s Test squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. For Australia A, however, the match was a double-edged sword; while Konstas and Webster emerged as heroes, the struggles of established players like Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft, who managed just 29 runs in eight first-class innings this season, will likely raise questions ahead of the first Test.