India A made a promising start in the third and final unofficial ODI against Australia A in Puducherry on Sunday, but opening batters Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh narrowly missed out on half-centuries.
India A reached 107/3 in 16 overs, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rajat Patidar at the crease, according to the live match update provided. The hosts were looking to secure a consolation victory after losing the first two matches of the series, while Australia A were aiming to complete a clean sweep. India A’s decision to change their opening combination appeared to pay off early in the innings. Priyansh and Prabhsimran put together an 83-run opening partnership, giving the team a solid platform and helping it score quickly during the initial overs. Their partnership provided hope that India A could mount a strong batting performance in the final game.
However, both openers departed before reaching the milestone of 50 runs, leaving the middle order to rebuild the innings and maintain the scoring rate. Prabhsimran was dismissed for 39 after contributing significantly to the opening stand. His innings helped India A establish early momentum against the Australian attack, but his departure brought an end to the partnership. Priyansh continued to bat aggressively and came close to completing his half-century. He was eventually dismissed for 49, just one run short of the landmark. Missing out on a fifty after making a strong start was a setback for the opener, particularly as India A needed a substantial total to challenge Australia A in the series finale.
Australia A medium pacer Liam Scott emerged as a key bowler during the early stages of the innings, claiming two wickets according to the match update. His breakthroughs helped the visitors regain control after India A’s encouraging start. The dismissals of both openers meant that the Indian side could not fully capitalise on its opening partnership. With three wickets down inside 16 overs, the responsibility shifted to the incoming batters to stabilise the innings and build a competitive total. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rajat Patidar were at the crease when India A reached 107/3 after 16 overs. Their partnership was expected to play an important role in determining the direction of the innings. Gaikwad’s leadership and Patidar’s batting would be central to India A’s attempt to recover from the loss of three wickets.
The available match update did not provide further details about their individual scores, the remaining batting order or the eventual first-innings total. The third unofficial ODI carried different objectives for the two teams. India A were seeking a consolation win after suffering defeats in the first two matches, while Australia A were looking to finish the series without a loss. Australia A, led by Nathan McSweeney according to the supplied report, had already secured the series by winning the opening two games. A victory in Puducherry would strengthen the visitors’ position and complete a clean sweep, whereas a win for India A would provide a positive finish despite the series result. The match also offered players an opportunity to demonstrate their form in a competitive setting.
Priyansh and Prabhsimran’s opening partnership showed the potential value of the revised combination, even though neither batter converted the start into a half-century. For India A, the challenge was to turn that promising beginning into a substantial score. Australia A, meanwhile, had gained momentum through Scott’s wickets and would look to maintain pressure as the innings progressed. At the 16-over mark, India A stood at 107/3, with Gaikwad and Patidar tasked with rebuilding the innings. The loss of both openers had interrupted the hosts’ early progress, but the side still had an opportunity to recover through its middle order. The final outcome would depend on how effectively India A managed the remaining overs and whether Australia A could continue taking wickets. As the third and final unofficial ODI progressed, India A remained focused on avoiding a series whitewash, while Australia A pursued a clean sweep.