Peter Handscomb's A team have had to endure the sort of day Australia's Border-Gavaskar Trophy team can expect to face on tour next year after they were skittled out for just 171 by India A on the second day of the four-day unofficial Test in Puducherry.
Australia A are seriously under the cosh on a turner after the hosts took their total to 334 on Wednesday, with Kumar Kushagra returning to complete his century, before standout bowling from slow left-armer Shams Mulani ripped the heart out of the visitors' middle-order.
Behind by 163 on first innings, Australia know they'll have to face a further trial by spin after the Indian pair of Mulani (4-67) and offspinner Tanush Kotian (2-31) had done most of the damage first time around.
After retiring hurt on 82 with cramps on the first day, wicketkeeper Kushagra returned to the crease to score his ton off 202 balls and go on to 113, helping India A stretch their overnight total of 5-257 by another 77 runs.
Australia A's spin duo of Corey Rocchiccioli (4-95 off his 25 overs) and Todd Murphy (3-77 off 33.3 overs) did the main damage for the tourists.
When the Aussies batted though, seamers Anshul Kamboj and Tushar Deshpande took early wickets, with Sam Konstas battling to make 25, while Campbell Kellaway (two), Nathan McSweeney (nought off 17 balls) and captain Handscomb (eight) all fell for single figures.
Handscomb was Mulani's first victim in an excellent spell and Australia badly need the resistance shown by top-scorer Jason Sangha, who also eventually succumbed to the spinner on 46, caught brilliantly by Kotian at point as he thought he'd nailed a reverse sweep.
Liam Scott, last season's Sheffield Shield Player of the Year, offered a counter-attacking threat with his 26 off 30 balls but he too got dismissed by the excellent Mulani, edging one behind.
