Henry Thornton may not possess raw express pace, but his distinctive, skiddy round-arm action proved to be a formidable weapon against India-A. On day two of the second ‘Test’ at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Thornton delivered a masterclass in seam bowling, claiming four crucial wickets that firmly placed Australia-A in the driver’s seat.
After posting a strong total of 420 in their first innings, Australia-A’s bowlers efficiently dismantled the Indian batting order, dismissing the home side for a modest 194. This impressive performance handed the visitors a commanding 226-run first-innings lead. However, India-A refused to surrender completely, with their bowlers staging a spirited late comeback, leaving Australia-A precariously placed at 16 for three at stumps.
The Indian fightback saw Gurnoor Brar strike immediately, removing Sam Konstas with his very first delivery. Mohammed Siraj followed up by having Campbell Kellaway caught behind, and Manav Suthar added to the pressure by dismissing Oliver Peake at leg-slip.
Yet, the defining narrative of the day undoubtedly revolved around Thornton’s brilliant spell.
Thornton’s Decisive Spell and Concussion Concerns
Introduced into the attack in the tenth over, the 28-year-old wasted no time in making an impact. He first accounted for N. Jagadeesan, who miscued a short ball to mid-wicket. In the very next over, Thornton’s relentless accuracy paid dividends again, as Devdutt Padikkal edged to mid-off and Dhruv Jurel was trapped plumb lbw, visibly hurried by the delivery.
Thornton’s influence wasn’t limited to his initial burst. He later returned to challenge Prasidh Krishna with a barrage of short deliveries. While Krishna managed to dispatch one for six, another menacing bouncer unfortunately struck the batter on the helmet, forcing him to retire hurt from the field. Yash Thakur stepped in as a concussion substitute, but the torment continued for India-A as Siraj gloved another well-directed bouncer from Thornton to the wicketkeeper, completing the seamer’s four-wicket haul.
For India-A, the lone beacon of resistance came from Sai Sudharsan, who crafted a resolute 75 runs off 140 deliveries. After K.L. Rahul fell early, caught behind off Will Sutherland, Sudharsan showcased remarkable composure. He drove with confidence and deftly countered the short ball, even executing a superb upper cut for six. He formed a valuable 51-run partnership with Ayush Badoni before Badoni was eventually stumped. Todd Murphy then brought an end to Sudharsan’s brave innings, trapping him leg before wicket. India-A’s innings concluded rather tamely with a run-out mix-up involving Gurnoor and Yash Thakur.
Earlier in the day, the Australian tail had wagged significantly, much to the frustration of the Indian attack. Todd Murphy and Henry Thornton themselves forged an impactful 91-run partnership for the last wicket. Murphy’s enterprising 76 was particularly frustrating for the hosts, while Thornton remained unbeaten on 32, a precursor to his dominant bowling performance.
Brief Scores:
Australia-A: 420 in 97.2 overs (Sam Konstas 49, Nathan McSweeney 74, Jack Edwards 88, Todd Murphy 76; Manav Suthar 5/107) & 16/3 in 7.5 overs
India-A: 194 in 52.5 overs (Sai Sudharsan 75; Henry Thornton 4/36)