'We will come back strong' - Nair

Karun Nair, who top-scored in India A's meagre 135 on the first day in Chennai, has conceded that a total of 200 would have given his team a chance with something for the bowlers to work with. On Wednesday, Varun Aaron looked rusty after missing the first unofficial Test, bowling four no-balls and a wide, and the other bowlers did not fare much better either.

Karun, though, believed that the India A bowlers would tighten things up on the second day.

"Since the batsmen haven't got too many runs, I think 200 would have been a good score for the bowlers." Karun said. "Since the pressure of getting wickets was there, the odd loose delivery was there today. I think we will come back strong tomorrow. We will be more disciplined and bowl better tomorrow."

Karun and Naman Ojha ground 56 in 32.5 overs for the fifth wicket on a pitch that became slower as the day progressed. Karun, however, displayed more assurance, pressing forward to smother the spin and often skipping back to play late-cuts and deft dabs before a lapse in concentration resulted in his dismissal. The last five wickets tumbled for just 21 runs after Karun chipped a full delivery from Andrew Fekete to square leg for a 153-ball 50.

Karun was left ruing the opportunity. "I thought I played well but I shouldn't have got out the time I got out. I should have put my head down. Once I got a fifty, I should have gone on to get a bigger score.

"No, nothing of such happened [the ball did not stop on me]. I lost a bit of concentration. I think the wicket in whole was slow, it was turning a bit."

Karun also attributed the regular fall of wickets to the relentless pressure built up by the Australia A bowlers. "We were losing wickets quite regularly," Karun said. "What they did well was they were very disciplined and patient. They did not give any easy balls. So, it was difficult to take chances against them."