Short, Carey fire but Aussies collapse

Half-centuries to D'Arcy Short and Alex Carey have helped Australia A before a late collapse saw them bowled out for 225 in the 50-over quad-series final against India B in Bangalore. 

Short hit nine fours in his 77-ball knock of 72 on his return to the side, while wicketkeeper-batsman Carey added 53 runs in 56 balls with two sixes and three fours.

But having reached 4-192, the Australians lost their final six wickets for just 33 runs, with the leg-spin of Shreyal Gopal (3-50) doing the damage. 

Gopal removed Carey and then last-match hero Jack Wildermuth with consecutive balls. Joel Paris kept out the googly that was the hat-trick attempt while Siddarth Kaul helped mop up the tail with 2-24 in five overs.

The Australians got off to a decent start with Short and Usman Khawaja, fresh from a century in the previous match, putting on 51 together. Khawaja was the first to fall when he top-edged an attempted slog sweep for an easy catch for wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan. 

Captain Travis Head got a leading edge for Shubman Gill to take an excellent catch diving forward from backward point to exit for a duck, before Short and Marnus Labuschagne put on a 50-run partnership. 

That ended when Labuschagne was struck plumb in front to be Gopal's first wicket, with the Queenslander walking towards the pavillion before the umpire raised his finger.

Short and Carey added 42 together before the opener mistimed a shot against the off-spin of Deepak Hooda, and the spinner claimed a second when he deceived Ashton Agar with pace as the Western Australian checked his shot and spooned a catch back to the bowler. 

Carey and Agar had put on 44 together and looked to have a solid platform from which to launch in the final 10 overs, but Agar's wicket left the Aussies at 5-192 in the 39th over. 

Carey fell soon after as he top-edged an attempted slog sweep that went straight up for a second easy catch for keeper Kishan, and the wheels promptly fell off. 

Wildermuth was bowled through the gate next ball by the wrong'un, before Paris edged Kaul behind. Mitch Swepson fell first ball as he presented Kaul a simple caught-and-bowled, and the Indian narrowly missed bowling Billy Stanlake with his hat-trick ball. Michael Neser was the last man out, throwing the bat as he edged behind with the Aussies leaving 13 balls unbowled. 

Australia A Tour of India

Australia A one-day squad: Travis Head (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Joel Paris, Matthew Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitch Swepson, Chris Tremain, Jack Wildermuth

Schedule

One-day fixtures

17 August v India A: Match abandoned

19 August v South Africa A: Match abandoned

21 August v India B: Match abandoned

23 August v India A - lost by five wickets.

25 August v South Africa A - won by 32 runs.

27 August v India B - won by five wickets (DLS method)

29 August - Quad-Series Final

Australia A four-day squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Michael Neser, Joel Paris, Kurtis Patterson, Matthew Renshaw, Mitch Swepson, Chris Tremain

Four-day fixtures in Vizag

2-5 September v India A

8-11 September v India A