Tanisha, Prasad, Satheesh fifties drive India A on opening day

Tanisha Singh's 92, Niki Prasad's unbeaten 78 and Shubha Satheesh's 59 gave India A women the edge on the opening day of the the unofficial four-day Test against Australia A women in Mohali. The hosts ended day one 351 for 9 in 100 overs.

Batting first, Satheesh and Priya Punia laid the perfect platform with a 102-run opening stand in 27 overs. But Australia A fought back with four wickets in no time as India A slipped from 102 for 0 to 120 for 4. Fast bowler Mary Illingworth first had Punia caught behind for 46 before offspinner Lilly Mills broke India A's back with three quick wickets.

She first had captain Yastika Bhatia stumped for 5 and two balls later sent back Satheesh lbw. In her next over, she dismissed Tejal Hasabnis as the hosts lost their way.

Anushka Sharma and Tanisha then got together to resurrect India A's innings. They added 82 runs for the fifth wicket before Anushka fell for 44. Tanisha and Prasad then took the momentum forward, adding 111 runs for the sixth wicket.

Tanisha fell eight short of her century, lbw to Tess Flintoff before India A suffered another mini collapse, losing 3 for 13. Charlie Knott removed Sayali Satghare and Shabnam Shakil in the same over and later had Vaishnavi Sharma lbw for 6. Prasad, however, carried on as she brought up her half-century and helped India A get past 350.

For Australia A, Mills and Knott picked up three wickets apiece while Flintoff, Illingworth and Frankie Nicklin grabbed a wicket each.