Harshit Rana tilted the tide back in India's favor with four quick wickets [Source: @StarSportsIndia/x]
Harshit Rana jolted Australia Prime Minister’s XI middle-order with a slew of wickets in the middle overs of the innings. Curtailing Jack Clayton’s 109-run third-wicket partnership with centurion Sam Konstas with a near unplayable peach, the speedster also hurled down a similar delivery later in the same over.
Moreover, Rana added two more wickets to his tally in the following over to seize astonishing figures of 4-44 in India’s two-day tour match at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.
Harshit Rana seals the moment in Canberra
Harshit Rana struck in the fifth over of his opening spell and the 23rd of the Australian Prime Minister’s XI innings by clipping the top of middle stump of well-set number four batter Jack Clayton (40 off 52). Rana’s timely breakthrough handed India a wicket after 17 overs, as it snapped Clayton’s 109-run third-wicket defiance with centurion and opening batter Sam Konstas.
Rana also knocked over newcomer Oliver Davies for a two-ball duck later in the same over as the Prime Minister’s XI crashed to 133-5 in 23 overs.
Shortly after bagging two wickets in the space of just three deliveries, Harshit Rana had Australia Prime Minister’s XI captain Jack Edwards and number seven Sam Harper, both caught out by Prasidh Krishna at long leg the following over to finish with figures of 4-44.
Overall, Indian bowlers wrapped up the PM-XI for 240 in 43.2 overs. Young opener Sam Konstas top-scored in the innings with 107 alluring runs from 97 balls. Hanno Jacobs hauled a near run-a-ball 61 while batting in the tail to take his team to a competitive total.
For India, Akash Deep also picked up two wickets, including that of centurion Konstas, while Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and spinners Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with a wicket each.