Aussies fall short in quad-series final

India B have claimed the silverware in the quad-series final with a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Australia A after chasing down the visiting team's 225 with more than 13 overs to spare. 

Two days ago these sides played out a thriller with Jack Wildermuth smashing a final-ball six as he hit 20 in the final over to claim a fabulous win, but the rematch with the silverware on the line proved a lop-sided contest. 

Australia A's total had looked compeitive but below par after they lost their final six wickets for just 33 runs having been put in to bat. Half-centuries to opener D'Arcy Short and wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey had laid a nice foundation for the Australians before the wheels fell off in the final 10 overs.

For India B, an unbeaten 73 from captain Manish Pandey - who went through the tournament without being dismissed - and 66 not out from Shubman Gill steered the home side to victory in the 37th over. 

Opener Mayank Agarwal continued his impressive tournament with 69 before he became the only wicket to fall for the home side, bowled by Ashton Agar for 69 after a 67-ball knock that included nine fours and two sixes. 

There was early drama in India B's innings with Billy Stanlake causing early havoc for Ishan Kishan, who never looked comfortable against the towering Queenslander as he endured a fiery short-pitched barrage. He was smacked on the glove and painful blow forced him to retire hurt in the seventh over on 13. 

Image Id: F0FF6018571E4AC49FFAED179C3F3507 Image Caption: Stanlake was called for a no ball // Supplied

Later in the over Stanlake looked to have had Gill caught for a duck after a stunning catch at mid-wicket as Jack Widlermuth flung himself low and to his right to take the grab one-handed. After a lengthy delay the third umpire ruled a marginal front foot no ball call in India's favour and Gill was reprieved. 

He punched Stanlake's attempted yorker to the boundary next ball as the momentum shifted the home side's way. 

Gill and Agarwal put on 76 together and were largely untroubled after that early reprieve. Agarwal was in particularly fine touch, driving on the up to smash Stanlake for a six, and taking to Agar with a series of fours, and one mighty six back over the bowler's head. 

Agar had his revenge though as Agarwal continued to play expansively, sliding one and getting some skiddy bounce to peg back the off stump. 

The Australians thought they had Pandey caught down the leg-side in Short's first over after some sharp work from Alex Carey, but after consulting with his square leg colleague the standing umpire signalled a wide. Pandey smashed the next ball over long-off for six. 

He repeated the trick to end the match, smashing Short over long-off to complete the win with 75 balls to spare. 

Earlier, half-centuries to Short and Carey lifted Australia A early before the late collapse saw them bowled out for 225. 

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.

Image Id: 6DA40D455D314C6FAB4487600CC8067F Image Caption: D'Arcy Short smashes a boundary // BCCI

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. 

Image Id: 94A53982E365462AB3D0A36A6C0622E1 Image Caption: Alex Carey salutes his half-century // BCCI

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 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. 

Meanwhile, India A won the third-placed playoff against South Africa A by 124 runs. Batting first, India A hit 7-275 in their 50 overs, with captain Shreyas Iyer top scoring with 67 while Beuran Hendricks took 3-39 for the South Africans. 

In reply, South Africa A were bowled out for 151 in the 38th over with Indian Test seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar making an impressive return with 3-33 in nine overs. 

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 v India B - lost by nine wickets

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