New Zealand A Dominates as India A Crumbles in
India’s Test hopefuls faced a challenging start in Lincoln as the India A side was dismissed for 113 on the first day of the opening unofficial Test. New Zealand A elected to bowl first on a pitch offering significant seam and swing, a decision that proved fruitful as the visitors struggled for 39.2 overs. Simon Keene led the destruction for the hosts with figures of 5-24, supported by Zak Gibson, who claimed 3-29. Although the visitors struck thrice close to Stumps to salvage something for the day, the pacers made the most of it as India A’s innings lasted 39.2 overs. With conditions aiding seam and swing, new Zealand A won a crucial toss and inserted India A to bat first on a green top. Choudhary, in particular, beat the bat on multiple occasions but the opening partnership went past 100.
The visiting batting lineup struggled from the outset. KL Rahul was dismissed for a duck, followed by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who played 45 deliveries for his 17 runs before edging to first slip. Sai Sudharsan and captain Dhruv Jurel also failed to make an impact, falling for scores of zero and one respectively, with Jurel’s dismissal occurring shortly after a mid-pitch collision with Fraser Sheat. Devdutt Padikkal, batting at number three, reached 32 by lunch but was dismissed with the first ball of the afternoon session, leaving India A at 56-5. Departing for a duck, the former was the first to fall as he went chasing one he could have left alone. Shortly after the latter collided with Fraser Sheat while completing a run, simon Keene then cleaned up Sai Sudharsan for a duck before quickly removing captain Dhruv Jurel for 1. Who slotted in at No.3 ahead of Sudharsan, perhaps an indication of what is to come in the Test series next month, weathering the storm was Devdutt Padikkal. Anshul Kamboj scored a couple of boundaries but picked one up to deep fine leg. 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.
The collapse continued as Washington Sundar fell for a duck and the lower order struggled to build partnerships. Yash Rathod provided late resistance, hitting three sixes to help the team avoid a double-digit total and finishing unbeaten on 44. The innings concluded when Keene claimed his fifth wicket by dismissing Mukesh Choudhary, leaving the visitors trailing by 22 runs. The visitors were in danger of being bowled out in double-digits, auqib Nabi and Akash Deep fell within the space of three deliveries and at 81 for 9.
In response, New Zealand A navigated the difficult conditions with greater success. Although a missed chance by Jaiswal in the sixth over gave opening batter Rhys Mariu an early life, the hosts built a solid foundation. Mariu went on to score 76, while Curtis Heaphy remained unbeaten on 37 as the pair put together a century stand. Despite sustained pressure from the Indian bowlers, the seamers found it difficult to make inroads until late in the day.
India A found a late breakthrough when Mukesh Choudhary trapped Mariu lbw. Shortly after, Auqib Nabi made significant gains in the final over of the day, dismissing night watchman Jayden Lennox and Tim Robinson with consecutive deliveries. As stumps were called, New Zealand A stood at 135-3, leading by 22 runs. Nabi will enter the second day looking to complete a hat-trick.
