India A lost their first encounter of the Quadrangular One-day series to Australia A by 28 runs at the Marrara Oval in Darwin. Chasing 253, the visitors were bowled out for 224 with 22 balls to spare. Earlier asked to bat by Robin Uthappa, Australia A openers put together a 40-run partnership when Mohit Sharma sent back Phillip Hughes. Dhawal Kulkarni then sent back Cameron White and Chris Lynn in the next over with just one run added to the scorecard. Callum Ferguson then joined Alex Doolan in the middle and the pair added 80 for the fourth wicket before Akshar Patel removed the former. Doolan then found an able ally in Mitchell Marsh to help the team to a respectable total. The duo’s partnership took the hosts to 237 with a 116-run partnership. In the pen-ultimate over, Marsh was the first to be sent back for by Sharma, who also dismissed Doolan a ball later for 96. In the last over, Kulkarni then accounted for Cameron Boyce with two balls to spare. Peter Nevill and Kane Richardson then helped the team to 252 for seven. Chasing the competitive score, Robin Uthappa and Unmukt Chand opened the innings for India A and had added 39 until the latter edged Richardson to the wicketkeeper. The visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals to Marsh and Richardson. The pacers ran through the line-up picking eight batsmen between them. While the rest of the line-up collapsed Sanju Samson put up a fight and scored 81 as wickets fell around him. Richardson claimed 5/31 while Marsh claimed 3/41. Clint McKay and Boyce chipped in with a wicket each to bowl the hosts to victory. Brief scores: Australia A 252/7 in 50 overs (A Doolan 96, M Marsh 63, D Kulkarni 3/41, M Sharma 3/53) beat India A 224 all out in 46.2 overs (S Samson 81, K Richardson 5/31, M Marsh 3/41) by 28 runs.