Skipper nathan mcsweeney

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: Opener Sam Konstas struck a superb hundred as Australia A made a strong stand, reaching 337/5 in 73 overs against India A on a rain-curtailed opening day of the first unofficial four-day test at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday.

The match started after a lengthy delay as persistent rain held up the toss for more than two hours. As a result, the play began only from the second session, after lunch. Choosing to bat first, Australian 'A' openers Sam Konstas and Campbell Kellaway let their bats do the talking and dominated the proceedings.

Konstas scored a brilliant century, finishing with 109 off 144 balls, while Kellaway made 88 off 97 deliveries. Harsh Dubey provided India with their first breakthrough, though late, when he dismissed Kellaway in the 38th over. The 19-year-old Konstas struck 10 boundaries and three maximums during his 144-ball stay at the crease, sharing a 198-run partnership with Kellaway, whose knock of 88 was studded with ten fours and two sixes.