Australia A won the day — and the match — but more failures in the top order against India A on Saturday added to the intrigue over Test squad selections.
Marcus Harris was caught behind for a golden duck after lunch at the MCG and out-of-sorts No.3 Cameron Bancroft went the next ball, trapped lbw also for a golden duck.
Captain Nathan McSweeney was also caught behind for 25, to go with his 14 in the first innings, after he was elevated to an opening role in this game as a Test match audition.
Young gun Sam Konstas was the one hopeful to shine on Saturday, making 73no as Australia A won by five wickets with a day spare.
But Konstas likely needed a much bigger score in this game to push for a shock Test debut.
The Australian squad for the first Test in Perth against India from November 22 will be announced on Sunday in Melbourne. The one unknown is who will be brought into the squad to partner Usman Khawaja to open.
Konstas survived the hat-trick ball from India A opening bowler Pradish Krishna after Harris and Bancroft were dismissed.
Chasing 168 for victory, Australia reach 4-169 late on day three, with in-form all-rounder Beau Webster making 42no in a 96-run stand with Konstas.
Mukesh Kumar also had McSweeney caught behind with a superb delivery.
Bancroft is badly out of form, having scored just 29 runs in his eight first-class innings so far this summer.
Earlier on Saturday, lusty late-order hitting from India A meant another opportunity for the Australian Test opener candidates to impress national selectors.
Resuming at 5-73, India A were dismissed for 229, losing their last three wickets quickly after lunch.
The popular thinking is that McSweeney will open with Khawaja for the first Test against India.
But Harris did no harm to his claims for a Test recall with a top score of 74.
Bancroft and Konstas were dismissed in the first innings for three apiece.
After 25 wickets fell on the first two days, the MCG wicket appeared to have lost some of its venom on Saturday and the India A tailenders went to work.
No.6 Dhruv Jurel was dropped on 25 and he made the home side pay, reaching 68 before spinner Corey Rocchiccioli had him caught in the deep.
He put on 94 for the sixth wicket with Nitish Kumar Reddy to ensure the match would not end early.
Reddy made 38 before Beau Webster claimed his third wicket of the innings, with the batsman caught behind attempting a hook shot.
Tanush Kotian (44) and Krishna (29) put on 49 for the eighth wicket, before an outstanding catch by Konstas in the deep off Rocchiccioli removed Krishna.
Rocchiccioli took 4-74 and Webster continued his strong form with 3-49.
AAP
