India A equalise on a slow LA day

India A have drawn level in the five-match America Challenge series in Los Angeles, defeating Australia A by five wickets in the second match Thursday. The match was a low-scoring affair with the Indians reaching their target of 133 with ease.

The early morning start for these matches proved ambitious yet again, rain delaying the commencement of play and reducing the match to 42 overs per side. Australia A, batting first after winning the toss, started disastrously when Ryan Campbell hit a return catch to Dodda Ganesh from the first legitimate ball of the match. Gilchrist followed soon after for 6, and in the first fifteen overs the Australians scored just 54 runs for the loss of three wickets. In slow conditions the Australian batsmen found the Indian attack hard to despatch, with Corey Richards the top score of the innings with 22 (though extras totalled 28).

Australia A were dismissed in 35 overs for 129. Left-arm spinner Sridaran Sriram took 4/23 from six overs, Harbhajan Singh claiming 2/14 from eight.

Sriram's performance as opening batsman was someone of a letdown after this, run out at the non-striker's end on the second ball of the Indian innings without a run on the board. The Indian upper-order struggled, opener Devang Gandhi dismissed for 5 in the tenth over. When the fourth wicket fell at 63 in the 19th over, Australia were in front.

It was Mohammad Kaif (38) and Vijay Bhardwaj (28*) who then swung the game for India, within the space of ten overs posting a 52-run partnership. Bhardwaj hit the only six of the match, a hoick over long-on from left-arm spinner Brad Young, who was expensive (4-0-34-0).

Bhardwaj finished the match with a four from the first ball of the 31st over. India A winners by five wickets with 71 balls to spare. Brendon Creevey (1/15 from six overs) was the best of the Australian bowlers who, in total, gave up eight no-balls and 18 wides.

Game three of this series will be played on Saturday.