Pacer Shardul Thakur's efforts go in vain as Aussies wrest advantage

Brisbane, Sep 16 (CRICKETNMORE): Shardul Thakur sent the selectors who dropped him from the Test squad against New Zealand a message by picking up three wickets for 71 runs though his effort went up in smoke as Australia A took a handsome 150-run lead against India A in Brisbane on Friday. Gautam Gambhir bats for taking Test cricket to smaller towns.

Replying to India's first innings score of 169 all out, the Aussies were 319/5 at close of play on Day Two of the final match of the two-game quadrangular series.

Thakur dented the Australian top order with two quick wickets. But the home side recovered well from 11/2 at the Allan Border Field here.

Australia A started the day well, taking the final India A wicket with the fourth ball of the day to bowl out the visitors for 169, with Kane Richardson (4/37) continuing his superb opening day form by removing Hardik Pandya for 79.

Western Australia's Hilton Cartwright (99 batting) lorded the day with the bat but New South Wales' Nic Maddinson also contributing with 81 off 114 balls. Maddinson was caught by Manish Pandey off the off-spin of Jayant Yadav. Phil Simmons sacked as West Indies coach for exposing conflict in WICB.

Tasmania's Beau Webster made his mark scoring 79 from 186 balls, before being dismissed by Thakur. NSW's Kurtis Patterson also contributed 25 before being dismissed.

Brief scores: India A 169 (Hardik Pandya 79; Kane Richardson 4/37) trail Australia A 319/5 (Hilton Cratwright 99, Nic Maddinson 81, Beau Webster 79; Shardul Thakur 3/71) by 150 runs.