Harper’s unbeaten century rescues Australia-A

Sam Harper gave no inkling that he was on Australia-A debut, hit a century in a middle-order riposte, and made sure his team batted out the opening day of the second ‘Test’ against India-A at the Siechem Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday.

His unbeaten 153-ball 101 (7x4, 3x6) was the lead act: he was involved in an 84-run sixth-wicket stand with Liam Scott and an 89-run seventh-wicket alliance with Todd Murphy, which took Australia-A to 282 for seven at stumps.

Harper was proactive from the outset, going after Tanush Kotian by sweeping for a boundary and hoisting over mid-off. His first maximum came off part-timer Shaik Rasheed, against whom he rocked back for a pummel beyond mid-wicket.

Harper and Murphy (33, 91b, 2x4, 1x6) endured an 87-ball spell without a boundary in the final session, but on the other side came the highlight of the former’s innings. He pranced out of his crease, first against Kotian and then Mulani, to chip them down the ground for sixes.

The partnership ended after Anshul Kamboj breached Murphy’s gate just five deliveries into the second new ball. Harper nearly succumbed to the second new ball, but saw his edge off Tushar Deshpande spray inches past gully and get him to a century off 146 balls.

Australia-A’s recovery, however, had started in the first session with Nathan McSweeney (34) and Jason Sangha (46, 75b, 6x4, 1x6) rescuing the team with an 81-run association.

Sangha picked the first boundary of the morning, punching Nachiket Bhute past mid-off. But it was his fluency against the tweakers that made his stay imposing. He paddle swept Mulani before parking a hit into the sight-screen.

But Mulani, who bowled a baffling 14 no balls on the day, got Sangha and McSweeney in successive overs after lunch. Harper then took over.