Burns makes World Cup case with blazing ton

Erin Burns has driven home her T20 World Cup claims with a brutal 55-ball century in Australia A's 81-run win over their Indian counterparts in the second of three one-day matches at Allan Border Field.

Burns whacked 107 from just 59 balls in Australia's series-leveling win in Brisbane, helping the hosts to 5-315 before they rolled India A for 234.

The allrounder has been part of Australia's squad for their last two series, but faces a fight to keep her spot ahead of the home World Cup in February.

She originally came into the squad as an injury replacement for Sophie Molineux, who has since fully recovered from a shoulder reconstruction but whose availability for the tournament remains under a cloud, after the talented Victorian announced she was taking time away from cricket to focus on her mental health partway through the Rebel WBBL season.

Renegades batter Jess Duffin is another player in the sights of selectors after a stellar Big Bash - although her interest in a return to national duties remains to be seen after she turned down a spot in the 'A' squad in favour of AFLW preseason training.

Burns did her chances of selection no harm on Saturday as Australia A levelled the three-match series 1-1.

She whacked 13 boundaries and hit five sixes, and brought up her century when she took 20 runs off the penultimate over of the innings.

Georgia Redmayne also hit 113, before Annabel Sutherland took 4-26 with the ball to wrap up the win despite a century from Indian opener Priya Punia (112).

Also impressive was off-spinner Molly Strano, who took the wind out of the Indian chase when she removed fifteen-year-old Shafali Verma for a 36-ball 46 and first drop Dayalan Hemalatha (0) in the space of three deliveries after the tourists put on 98 runs in 17 overs without losing a wicket.

The one-day series will be decided in Brisbane on Monday, before three Twenty20 matches which will act as even bigger selection trial for the World Cup.

Australia A One-Day squad: Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Heather Graham, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Bridget Patterson, Georgia Redmayne, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Belinda Vakarewa, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tahlia Wilson

Australia A T20 Squad: Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Josie Dooley, Heather Graham, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Bridget Patterson, Sammy Jo Johnson, Molly Strano, Annabel Sutherland, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

India A squad: Veda Krishnamurthy (c), Anuja Patil (vc), Priya Punia, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Devika Vaidya, D Hemalatha, Tanusree Sarkar, Sushma Verma (wicket-keeper), Nuzhat Parween, Mansi Joshi, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Manali Dakshini, T P Kanwar

Australia A v India A

First OD: India A won by 16 runs

Second OD: Australia A won by 81 runs

Third OD: December 16, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 10am

First T20: December 19, Bill Pippen Field, Gold Coast, 1pm

Second T20: December 21, Bill Pippen Field, Gold Coast, 1pm

Third T20: December 23, Bill Pippen Field, Gold Coast, 10am