Konstas, Johnson seal Australia A series win with 69-run rout of India A
Synopsis
Australia A's pace trio dismantled India A's batting inside the power-play to seal a 2-0 series sweep in Puducherry. With Konstas and Philippe laying the platform and Johnson, Meredith and Dwarshuis cleaning up the chase, India A's top order — including skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad — were exposed against quality pace, raising pointed questions ahead of a demanding home schedule.
Key Takeaways
Australia A beat India A by 69 runs at the Cricket Association Pondicherry Siechem Ground on 9 October .
Sam Konstas (67) and Josh Philippe (58) powered Australia A to 275 all out in 49.5 overs .
Spencer Johnson took 3 for 35 and Riley Meredith took 2 for 31 to bowl India A out for 206 in 45.2 overs .
Rajat Patidar (67 off 82 balls) was India A's only notable batting contribution, hitting his second consecutive fifty of the series.
The result gives Australia A an unassailable 2-0 lead; the third and final game is scheduled for Sunday .
Sam Konstas top-scored with a commanding 67 while left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson ripped through the batting order with a three-wicket haul as Australia A clinched the series against India A with a 69-run victory in the second 50-over game at the Cricket Association Pondicherry Siechem Ground in Puducherry on Friday, 9 October. The result hands Australia A an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with the dead-rubber third game set for Sunday.
Australia A Build a Match-Winning Total
Batting first on a sluggish surface, Australia A were anchored by a top-order blitz that set up a formidable score. Konstas and number-three Josh Philippe (58) struck fluent half-centuries, stitching together a partnership that gave the innings early momentum. Skipper Nathan McSweeney (32), Mitch Owen (25), and Lachlan Shaw (25) chipped in with handy contributions down the order.
Even when India A's bowlers triggered a late collapse, the top-heavy damage had already been done. Australia A reached 275 all out in 49.5 overs — a total that proved well beyond India A's reach. Seam-bowling all-rounder Arshad Khan was India A's standout with 3 for 56, while Yash Thakur chipped in with 2 for 46.
Pacers Demolish India A's Top Order in the Chase
Defending 276, Australia A's pace attack proved relentless on a pitch offering sharp bounce and movement. With Mahli Beardman rested, the trio of Johnson, Riley Meredith, and Ben Dwarshuis wreaked havoc in the power-play, dismissing Devdutt Padikkal, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, and B Sai Sudharsan inside the first ten overs.
The early damage was near-impossible to repair. Kumar Kushagra and Nishant Sindhu fell cheaply, leaving Rajat Patidar to mount a lone rearguard action. Patidar struck a gutsy 67 off 82 balls — his second consecutive fifty of the series — but lacked meaningful support as wickets crumbled around him before he too fell to Johnson.
India A Bowled Out, Series Sealed
India A were eventually dismissed for 206 in 45.2 overs, giving Australia A a 69-run win and an unpassable 2-0 series lead. Anukul Roy's unbeaten 34 offered some respectability at the tail, but the outcome was never in doubt after the power-play collapse.
Johnson was the pick of the attack with 3 for 35, while Meredith took 2 for 31. This is the second successive comprehensive defeat for India A in the series, having also lost the first game, raising questions about the top order's ability to handle quality pace on slow surfaces ahead of a busy home season.
Brief Scores
Australia A 275 all out in 49.5 overs (Sam Konstas 67, Josh Philippe 58; Arshad Khan 3-56, Yash Thakur 2-46) beat India A 206 all out in 45.2 overs (Rajat Patidar 67, Anukul Roy 34*; Spencer Johnson 3-35, Riley Meredith 2-31) by 69 runs.
Point of View
Padikkal, and Sai Sudharsan — all names in contention for the senior white-ball setup — were dispatched in the power-play both times, exposing a recurring vulnerability to left-arm pace with sharp bounce. Patidar's back-to-back fifties are the lone positive, but solitary resistance is not a template for a batting lineup expected to compete at the top level. Australia A, for their part, showed a clear tactical blueprint: start with two fluent half-centuries and unleash pace early in the second innings — a formula India will face again come the Border-Gavaskar buildup.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Australia A vs India A second 50-over match in Puducherry?
Australia A won by 69 runs, bowling India A out for 206 in pursuit of 276 at the Cricket Association Pondicherry Siechem Ground on 9 October. The result gives Australia A an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
What was Sam Konstas's score in the Australia A vs India A second game?
Sam Konstas top-scored for Australia A with 67 runs, sharing a productive partnership with Josh Philippe (58) to anchor the visitors' total of 275 all out in 49.5 overs.
How did Spencer Johnson perform for Australia A?
Spencer Johnson was the pick of Australia A's bowlers, claiming 3 for 35 to dismantle India A's chase. He dismissed Rajat Patidar — India A's top-scorer — to end the most dangerous partnership of the innings.
Who top-scored for India A in the second 50-over match?
Rajat Patidar was India A's standout batter, scoring 67 off 82 balls — his second consecutive half-century of the series. However, a lack of support from the rest of the batting order meant his effort could not prevent a 69-run defeat.
When is the third and final game of the Australia A vs India A series?
The third and final 50-over match is scheduled for Sunday. The series result is already decided with Australia A holding an unpassable 2-0 lead.
