India A Women tightened their grip on the only unofficial multi-day match against Australia A Women after an outstanding all-round performance on Day 2 in Mohali. Powered by Vaishnavi Sharma’s six-wicket haul and another solid batting effort, the hosts finished the day with a commanding 322-run lead.
India A Add Final Runs Before Bowlers Take Charge
Resuming on their overnight score of 351/9, India A added 13 more runs before being dismissed for 364.
Niki Prasad provided all of those runs, extending her overnight innings before falling agonisingly short of a century. She was dismissed for 91 by Lilly Mills, who finished with four wickets in the innings.
Australia A Collapse After Strong Opening Stand
Australia A began confidently, with captain Rachel Trenaman and Tahlia Wilson putting together a 60-run opening partnership. Wilson made 35 from 61 deliveries, while Trenaman contributed 44 off 88 balls before India’s spinners completely changed the course of the innings.
From 60 without loss, Australia A collapsed dramatically, losing their remaining 10 wickets for just 116 runs to be bowled out for 176.
Nicole Faltum remained unbeaten on 24 but found little support from the rest of the batting order.
Vaishnavi Sharma starred with the ball, producing match-winning figures of 6/52, while Niki Prasad and Shuchi Upadhyay claimed two wickets each as India’s spin trio dominated throughout the innings.
Priya Punia Leads India’s Strong Second Innings
Holding a first-innings lead of 188, India A continued to press their advantage with another composed batting display. Shubha Satheesh and Priya Punia added 60 runs for the opening wicket before Satheesh departed for 27.
Punia then combined with captain Yastika Bhatia in a valuable 74-run partnership for the second wicket, helping extend India’s advantage well beyond the 300-run mark.
Punia made a fluent 59 from 77 deliveries before becoming Lilly Mills’ second wicket of the innings.
At stumps, Yastika Bhatia remained unbeaten on 33, with India A reaching 134/2 after 27.5 overs.
India A Close in on Victory
After posting 364 in the first innings, India A dismissed Australia A for 176 before strengthening their position with another positive batting effort.
The hosts ended Day 2 on 134/2, taking their overall lead to 322 runs, with Yastika Bhatia still at the crease heading into the third day.
Vaishnavi Sharma’s six-wicket haul proved the defining performance with the ball, while Niki Prasad’s 91 and Priya Punia’s second-innings half-century ensured India A remained firmly in control of the unofficial Test.
Brief Scores: India A Women 364 & 134/2 (Priya Punia 59, Yastika Bhatia 33*, Lilly Mills 2/31) lead Australia A Women 176 (Vaishnavi Sharma 6/52, Rachel Trenaman 44) by 322 runs at stumps on Day 2.
