Australia A blitz India A in Townsville

Australia A have cruised to an eight-wicket victory in their opening match against India A in the Quadrangular A Series in Townsville, thanks to a Chris Tremain masterclass with the ball.

The Victorian quick was the catalyst as India capitulated for 55, taking a match-winning 5-25 including a spell of 5-16 in three overs.

South Australia’s fast bowler Dan Worrall was also sublime, taking 4-26 at the other end, with Michael Neser (1-4) the other wicket taker - and the only other Australia A bowler whose services were required.

India A’s 10-55 now sits second on the list of lowest List A scores made in Australia, narrowly edging out South Australia’s Australia Day effort of 53 against Tasmania back in 2003.

Tremain snared three wickets in four balls in his second over, removing the experienced trio of Karun Nair, Mandeep Singh and captain Manish Pandey.

His onslaught didn’t stop there, claiming Faiz Fazal and Sanju Samson in his third over, with Worrall running rampant at the Lagoon End of Tony Ireland Stadium.

Only Axar Patel (15) could manage double figures as India A coach Rahul Dravid was rendered helpless as his side lost consistent wickets, all out after just 16 overs.

India A’s last three wickets added only 16 runs as the touring side were bundled out in less than an hour and a half.

In complete contrast, Australia A’s chase was calculated from the beginning, needing a slight decimal more than one run per over to claim victory.

Marcus Stoinis (19) was watchful and attacked when the loose ball was offered, reaching the fence twice before he and captain Chris Lynn (0) were undone by spin.

It was left to Kurtis Patterson (23no) and Pete Handscomb to finish the job, handing their side the early four points in this three-week one-day series.

Winter quadrangular series details

Australia A one-day squad: Chris Lynn (c), Peter Handscomb (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Cameron Boyce, Glenn Maxwell, Joe Mennie, Kurtis Patterson, Kane Richardson, Alex Ross, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Tremain, Sam Whiteman, Dan Worrall.

National Performance Squad: Sean Abbott (c, NSW), Hilton Cartwright (WA), Kyle Gardiner (WA), David Grant (SA), Sam Grimwade (Vic), Sam Harper (Vic), Sam Heazlett (Qld), Clint Hinchliffe (WA), Josh Inglis (WA), Caleb Jewell (Tas), David Moody (WA), Arjun Nair (NSW), Tom O'Donnell (Vic), Matthew Renshaw (Qld), Matthew Short (Vic), Mitchell Swepson (Qld).

South Africa A one-day squad: Wayne Parnell (c), Qaasim Adams, Marchant de Lange, Reeza Hendricks, Heino Kuhn, Eddie Leie, Sisanda Magala, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Rilee Rossouw, Malusi Siboto, Khaya Zondo, David Miller, Dane Vilas 

India A squad: Naman Ojha (capt), Faiz Fazal, Akhil Herwadkar, Shreyas Iyer, Karun Nair, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Varun Aaron, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jaydev Unadkat, Barinder Sran, Shahbaz Nadeem, Sanju Samson.

Results

13 August, NPS 8-243 def South Africa A 226 by 17 runs
14 August, Australia A 2-56 def India A 55 by eight wickets

Fixtures

16 August, Australia A v NPS, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
17 August, South Africa A v India A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
20 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
21 August, India A v NPS, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
24 August, NPS v Australia A, Harrup Park, Mackay
25 August, South Africa A v India A, Harrup Park, Mackay
27 August, NPS v India A, Harrup Park, Mackay
28 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Harrup Park, Mackay
30 August, Australia A v India A, Harrup Park, Mackay
31 August, South Africa A v NPS, Harrup Park, Mackay
3 September; Final 3 v 4, Harrup Park, Mackay
4 September, Final 1 v 2, Harrup Park, Mackay

Tickets

Available at the gate (open from 8.55am). $10 Adult / $5 Concession / Children FREE.

Session Times

All times local. Toss: 9am. First innings: 9.30am - 1pm. Lunch 1pm - 1.45pm. Second innings 1.45pm - 5.15pm.