McSweeney's 123 and Beardman's 4-23 power Australia A to 125-run win over India A
Synopsis
Australia A's middle-order meltdown at 87 for 5 looked like India A's moment — then Nathan McSweeney and Will Sutherland added 141 in a counter-punch that changed everything. A 21-year-old Mahli Beardman then reduced India A to 24 for 3 inside four overs, turning a competitive chase into a rout. Australia A win by 125 runs and take a 1-0 lead.
Key Takeaways
Australia A beat India A by 125 runs in the first one-day match at Siechem Stadium, Puducherry on 6 October 2025 .
Nathan McSweeney top-scored with 123 off 135 balls — his second List A century — and added 141 for the sixth wicket with Will Sutherland (77) .
Mahli Beardman , aged 21 , recorded a career-best 4 for 23 to rattle India A's top order inside four overs.
Rajat Patidar top-scored for India A with 53 — his 14th List A fifty — but the hosts were bowled out for 149 .
Suryansh Shedge , an injury replacement for Hardik Pandya , claimed 4 for 40 — his second List A four-wicket haul.
The second match is on 9 October and the third on 11 October , both in Puducherry.
Nathan McSweeney struck a commanding 123 off 135 balls and young medium pacer Mahli Beardman dismantled India A's top order with a career-best 4 for 23 as Australia A defeated India A by 125 runs in the first match of the three-game one-day series at the Siechem Stadium in Puducherry on 6 October 2025. The result hands Australia A a 1-0 series lead with two games still to play.
McSweeney and Sutherland rescue Australia A
Opting to bat first, Australia A were in deep trouble at 87 for 5 before McSweeney and skipper Will Sutherland combined for a match-turning 141-run sixth-wicket partnership off 23.2 overs. McSweeney's innings featured 13 boundaries and was his second List A century, while Sutherland chipped in with a brisk 77 off 68 balls — including three successive sixes off left-arm spinner Anukul Roy — to record his fifth List A fifty. Their stand lifted the visitors to a competitive 274 all out in 48.2 overs.
Young medium-fast bowler Suryansh Shedge — called up as an injury replacement for Hardik Pandya — proved the pick of India A's attack. Re-introduced in the 40th over, Shedge broke the partnership by clean-bowling Sutherland, then removed Todd Murphy and Spencer Johnson off successive deliveries in his next over — both caught behind — to finish with a second career List A four-wicket haul. Yash Thakur (3 for 47) and Arshad Khan (2 for 48) also contributed.
Beardman puts India A on the back foot early
Defending 274, the 21-year-old Beardman struck immediately, sending back Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh to leave India A reeling at 24 for 3 by the fourth over. Left-arm fast bowler Spencer Johnson then dismissed skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad to make it 58 for 4, effectively ending any realistic hope of a fightback.
India A were eventually bowled out for 149 in 31.4 overs. Rajat Patidar top-scored with 53 off 51 balls — his 14th List A half-century — while Nishant Sindhu contributed 31. Prabhsimran finished the match with four catches behind the wicket.
Scorecard at a glance
Australia A: 274 all out in 48.2 overs — McSweeney 123, Sutherland 77; Shedge 4-40, Thakur 3-47, Arshad Khan 2-48.
India A: 149 all out in 31.4 overs — Patidar 53, Sindhu 31; Beardman 4-23, Johnson 2-36.
What's next for the series
The second one-day match of the series is scheduled for 9 October at the same venue, with the third and final game on 11 October. India A will need a sharp tactical rethink — particularly at the top of their batting order — to level the series, while Australia A will look to consolidate behind their emerging stars.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the first Australia A vs India A one-day match?
Australia A beat India A by 125 runs in the first one-day game at Siechem Stadium in Puducherry on 6 October 2025. Australia A posted 274 all out; India A were bowled out for 149.
How did Nathan McSweeney perform in the match?
Nathan McSweeney scored 123 off 135 balls, hitting 13 boundaries, in what was his second List A century. He added a decisive 141-run sixth-wicket stand with skipper Will Sutherland to rescue Australia A from 87 for 5.
What were Mahli Beardman's figures, and why are they significant?
The 21-year-old Beardman returned 4 for 23, a career-best List A performance. He dismissed Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Prabhsimran Singh inside the first four overs to reduce India A to 24 for 3.
Who was Suryansh Shedge, and why was he playing?
Suryansh Shedge was called up as an injury replacement for Hardik Pandya. He claimed 4 for 40, breaking the McSweeney-Sutherland stand and then dismissing two batters off successive deliveries — his second List A four-wicket haul.
When are the next matches in the Australia A vs India A one-day series?
The second one-day match is scheduled for 9 October and the third for 11 October, both at the Siechem Stadium in Puducherry. Australia A lead the three-match series 1-0.
