Lucknow, Sept. 25 -- A steady half-century by KL Rahul and an unbeaten knock of 44* by Sai Sudarshan put India A ahead in their 412-run chase at the end of day three of their second four-day unofficial Test against Australia A at Lucknow on Thursday.

At the end of day three, India A was 169/2, with Sudharsan (44*) and Manav Suthar (1*) unbeaten. They need 243 more runs to win.

India started the day three with Australia A at 16/3, with Nathan McSweeney unbeaten at 11. After India elected to field first, half-centuries from McSweeney (74 in 162 balls, with 10 fours) and Jack Edwards (88 in 78 balls, with 11 fours and a six) took Australia to 420, despite Suthar's figures of 5/107.

Sudharsan, with his 75, was the India A's sole resistance...