India’s Test regulars crumble as NZ A dominate opening day
A star-studded India A side was shot out for 113 before New Zealand cruised into the lead
India’s Test regulars received a rude welcome to New Zealand shores after the A side was rolled over for 113 on the opening day of the first unofficial Test in Lincoln. New Zealand A won a crucial toss and inserted India A to bat first on a green top, with conditions aiding seam and swing. The pacers made the most of it as India A’s innings lasted 39.2 overs, although the visitors struck thrice close to Stumps to salvage something for the day.
KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal failed to come to terms with the challenging conditions on offer and were beaten on multiple instances. The former was the first to fall as he went chasing one he could have left alone, departing for a duck. Jaiswal hung around for 45 deliveries and curbed his natural instincts before edging to first slip for 17. Simon Keene then cleaned up Sai Sudharsan for a duck before quickly removing captain Dhruv Jurel for 1, shortly after the latter collided with Fraser Sheat while completing a run.
Weathering the storm was Devdutt Padikkal, who slotted in at No.3 ahead of Sudharsan, perhaps an indication of what is to come in the Test series next month. He went into Lunch on 32 but edged behind off the first ball he faced in the second session, as India A were reduced to 56 for 5. The procession continued well into the session as Washington Sundar fell for a duck while the lower order failed to offer much resistance.
Anshul Kamboj scored a couple of boundaries but picked one up to deep fine leg. Auqib Nabi and Akash Deep fell within the space of three deliveries and at 81 for 9, the visitors were in danger of being bowled out in double-digits. But Yash Rathod averted that as he took the attack to the bowlers, striking three sixes to ruin Sheat’s figures after the seamer sent down an excellent opening spell. Rathod remained unbeaten on 44 as Keene removed Mukesh Choudhary for his fifth wicket to wrap up the innings.
Conditions did not ease for batting, although New Zealand A’s opening duo of Curtis Heaphy and captain Rhys Mariu applied themselves well. Akash Deep created an opportunity in the sixth over, but Jaiswal put a chance down as the edge flew to him at third slip and thud into his chest. Mariu, on 5, was the beneficiary and he did not seem perturbed, patiently getting through to Tea and stroking his way to a fifty in the final session, even as the seamers continued to probe and he scored a couple of streaky boundaries himself.
Choudhary, in particular, beat the bat on multiple occasions but the opening partnership went past 100. But India A finally had something to show for themselves as Choudhary trapped Mariu in front for 76. In the next over, Nabi bowled night watchman Jayden Lennox before dismissing Tim Robinson leg before off the very next ball. With only one more over possible in the day, Nabi will now have to wait until the start of Day 2 to pursue his hat-trick.
Brief Scores: India A 113 all-out (Yash Rathod 44*, Devdutt Padikkal 32; Simon Keene 5-24, Zak Gibson 3-29) trail New Zealand A 135/3 (Rhys Mariu 76, Curtis Heaphy 37*; Auqib Nabi 2-31, Mukesh Choudhary 1-30) by 22 runs.
