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Australia A seal final spot in thriller

Ferguson, Zampa get tourists home after Agar snares five with the ball against India A

Ashton Agar took his first five-wicket haul in List A cricket and Chris Lynn top-scored with 63 as Australia A booked a spot in the final of their tri-series with a three-wicket win over India A in Chennai.

Scorecard: India A v Australia A 

The Australians lost 4-25 midway through their run chase but an 80-run seventh-wicket stand between Callum Ferguson (45no) and Adam Zampa (54) righted the ship and saw the visitors chase down the required 259 with nine balls to spare. 

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Agar's haul of 5-39 had India A on the ropes at 6-161 before their lower order also fired, aided by the return to the crease of Manish Pandey (50 off 38), who had earlier retired hurt after colliding with Australia A 'keeper Matt Wade while running between the wickets.

Pandey had a cut chin attended to and rejoined the action in the 33rd over, resuming on seven before making a fine half-century after Mayank Agarwal had made 61 opening the innings. 

Agar knocked over Agarwal for his first wicket then took two in two balls with the score at 115. He added two more to his tally in quick time to leave the home side in serious strife, finishing with 5-39 before the recovery began. 

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Gurinder Sandhu chipped in with figures of 2-66 while James Pattinson bowled steadily, taking 1-23 off five overs. 

The Australian opening pair of captain Usman Khawaja (18) and Travis Head (45) began brightly, passing 50 without loss before the skipper was caught behind.

Australia A now meet South Africa A tomorrow (Tuesday), with the final scheduled for Friday.

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Lynn impressed with 63 // BCCI

Batting at No.3, Chris Lynn continued the strong work of the top order with three sixes in his 63 from 61, but the complexion of the match changed when four quick wickets were lost and it was left to Ferguson and the unlikely figure of Zampa to get the Australians home. 

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Zampa was the more aggressive of the pair, reaching his fifty from 46 balls before being bowled by Sandeep Sharma with the scores level. 

Ferguson hit the winning run via a boundary in the 49th over, making it three wins from as many matches for Australia A. 

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