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Australia A's Nathan McSweeney has had the best match of the four leading contenders to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the Test order this summer.
Nathan McSweeney has the chance to assert himself as the favourite for the Test vacancy after closing in on a half-century in Australia A's second innings against India A.
On day three in Mackay, Australia A captain McSweeney (47 not out from 98 balls) was by far the most impressive of the four leading candidates to open the batting for Australia alongside Usman Khawaja this summer.
Selection rivals Sam Konstas, Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft were all out cheaply for a second time in as many digs, prolonging Australia's selection conundrum only weeks from the first Test in Perth.
Heading into the second tour match, the only thing that will be clearer is that McSweeney has outperformed his rivals in the most important selection test yet.
The South Australia captain top-scored for the hosts with a patient 39 runs in a tough first innings, but took a different approach following early wickets on Saturday.
He slapped Prasidh Krishna for four in his first over at the crease, only five balls after the Indian paceman dismissed Bancroft with a brutal bouncer.
After Harris was sent packing, McSweeney breathed some life into his partnership with Beau Webster with two fours in three balls from Mukesh Kumar - India A's best bowler in the first innings.
McSweeney rode his luck after Navdeep Saini came around the wicket and appeared to strike him plumb on the pad on 36 runs.
Play had been due to continue until 5.30pm local time but was halted five minutes early because of poor light, denying McSweeney the chance to notch his half-century before stumps.
McSweeney's form for SA is another string to his bow this summer - the 25-year-old is averaging more Shield runs (97) than any of his three biggest rivals for the Test spot.
But McSweeney's inexperience as an opener could hinder him. First-drop or No.4 is his preferred position, while Konstas, Bancroft and Harris are all out-and-out openers.
Australia A quick Fergus O'Neill said the conditions made it difficult to assess the quartet's performances.
"The boys have fought real hard, all four of those lads," he said.
"It's hard to really get a proper gauge because it has been tough with the bat. Runs almost feel like double, especially against the new ball."
McSweeney will have ample time and a large enough target to impress on day four.
Australia A (3-139) require 86 runs for victory, with allrounder Webster (19no) to start alongside McSweeney at the crease on Sunday.
The boldest choice with only six first-class caps, Konstas fell into a trap for young players on Saturday.
The 19-year-old shouldered arms and watched as Kumar's inswinger forced his off-stump halfway to the wicketkeeper.
Konstas (16 from 33 balls) had made a positive start but has now managed a combined total of only 16 runs across his first two digs following a third-ball duck last time.
Also failing to score in the first innings, Bancroft (16 from 43 balls) struggled for fluency at the crease on Saturday and was given a life on four when he edged Saini's no-ball to first slip.
India A did not need to wait much longer to send him back to the pavilion, Krishna's bouncer hitting the shoulder of his bat and flying to gully.
As in the first innings, Harris came up with the most runs of any of the out-and-out openers, but never looked comfortable at the crease.
Just when he and McSweeney looked ready to forge a partnership in the third session, Harris (36 from 82 balls) clipped Manav Suthar to the wicketkeeper.
Earlier, spinner Todd Murphy engineered a comeback by dismissing India A's two top-scorers in the space of 13 deliveries in the first hour.
Sai Sudharsan (103) chopped on shortly after reaching his century, before Murphy trapped Devdutt Padikkal (88) lbw. Neither man features in India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India A were all out for 312, O'Neill finishing with 4-55 and Jordan Buckingham unable to bowl on day three because of a side strain.
