Centurions Padikkal, Jurel impress in drawn India A–Australia A rain-hit four-dayer

Rain and runs dominated the opening four-day contest between India A and Australia A in Lucknow, where Devdutt Padikkal’s fluent 150 and a mammoth stand with Dhruv Jurel on the final day ensured the game finished in a high-scoring draw.

Australia A had set the tone with a first-innings total of 532, built on hundreds from Josh Phillipe and Sam Konstas. In response, India A almost identically matched their opponents, their reply shaped first by fifties from Abhimanyu Easwaran, N Jagadeesan, and Sai Sudharsan, before Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel seized control. Walking in at 222 for 4, the pair stitched together a massive 228-run partnership to erase any deficit fears.

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Jurel converted his start into 140, while Padikkal went on to register his seventh first-class ton. On the final morning on Friday, Padikkal, resuming on 86, brought up three figures with authority and powered his way to 150, striking 14 boundaries and a six.

Rocchiccioli eventually claimed him, adding to the wickets of Jurel and Shreyas Iyer, as India A declared at 531 for 7, just one shy of the Australians’ total.

The visitors’ openers, Konstas and Campbell Kellaway, then extended their fine form with an unbeaten 56-run stand in 16 overs before rain, a constant presence throughout the match, washed out play once more.

The two sides will meet again for the second four-day fixture, starting September 23 at the same venue.