Shaun Tait was back to his fiery best as his 3-27 helped Australia A to a crushing 86-run win over India A in a tri-nation series match in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

Tait, still on the road to recovery in terms of match practice after his self-imposed exile from the game in January due to mental and physical exhaustion, would have been heartened by his display against the second string of India.

The Indians were bowled out for 207 in 49.4 overs as Ashley Noffke also impressed with 4-39, as Rajasthan Royals’ hard-hitter Yusuf Pathan top-scored with 54.

Tait’s blows were early and clinical as he ripped out three of India’s brightest prospects for the future to reduce them to 19-3 in the seventh over. He trapped the dangerous Robin Uthappa lbw with the 13th ball of the innings, made it 5-2 by bowling Suresh Raina three balls later and for his final wicket he had Subramaniam Badrinath caught behind to make it 19-3.

Australia A scored 168-1 in 27 overs to win on the Duckworth-Lewis method as Luke Ronchi cracked an unbeaten 108 from just 79 balls.