If Australia-A’s innings was constructed around power-hitting, India-A’s reply was built on textbook strokes spread across the Ekana Cricket Stadium here on day three of the first unofficial Test on Thursday.

Dhruv Jurel showcased his willingness to take on bowlers, Devdutt Padikkal was composed, while B. Sai Sudharsan impressed with his silken wrists as the hosts ended on 403 for four, 129 runs behind Australia-A’s 532 for six declared.

Vice-captain Jurel and Padikkal added 181 runs for the fifth wicket. The unbeaten stand steadied India-A’s innings and drew cheers from the sparse crowd as their strokes echoed around the near-empty ground.

Jurel signalled his intent against Corey Rocchiccioli, lofting him over midwicket and later pulling for four. Strong in defence, he shifted gears effortlessly, striking two sixes and a late cut to reach fifty in 55 balls. He maintained the tempo to bring up his hundred in 115 balls, hitting 10 fours and four sixes.

Padikkal played the anchor’s role. Patient with soft hands and strike rotation, he broke free with a lofted drive over cover to raise his half-century from 117 balls. The pair cashed in on the hardness of the second new ball, driving and flicking confidently into the stumps after captain Shreyas Iyer’s early exit.

Earlier, overnight batter N. Jagadeesan was dismissed for 64, 20 minutes into a rain-delayed start. With dampness aiding seam, Xavier Bartlett found the edge to remove him.

Sai Sudharsan, however, was unflappable. He left the short ball alone and punished Bartlett’s fuller deliveries, driving him straight. He drove gloriously through the covers, and a neat clip to square leg brought his fifty. His fluent 73 off 124 ended unexpectedly, leg-before attempting a reverse sweep against Cooper Connolly. His knock, however, laid the platform for Jurel and Padikkal’s late dominance.

The scores: Australia-A 532/6 decl. vs India-A 403/4 in 103 overs (Abhimanyu Easwaran 44, N. Jagadeesan 64, Sai Sudharsan 73, Devdutt Padikkal 86 batting, Dhruv Jurel 113 batting).