Padikkal and Sudharsan steady India A after a 113 all out collapse in Lincoln

Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan added an unbroken 96 to leave India A 98 runs behind New Zealand A at stumps on the second day in Lincoln

India A closed the second day of the first unofficial Test at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval on 106 for 2, still 98 runs adrift of New Zealand A and with two days left to bat themselves out of trouble.

The deficit was set up on Saturday, when India A were put in and collapsed to 113 all out in 39.3 overs. New Zealand A replied with 317, a first-innings lead of 204.

Padikkal was unbeaten on 56 from 89 balls and Sudharsan on 39 from 104, the pair having come together at 10 for 2 after both openers failed for the second time in the match.

Rahul has made 0 and 4 in the match and Jaiswal 17 and 5, 26 runs between them from four innings at the top of the order.

Keene tears through the top order

New Zealand A chose to bowl, and Simon Keene justified the call with 5-24 from 11.3 overs as India A were dismissed inside 40 overs.

The innings slipped from 44 for 3 to 58 for 6. KL Rahul edged behind off Fraser Sheat for a duck from eight balls, Yashasvi Jaiswal made 17 from 45, and Sudharsan fell to Keene for a 13-ball duck.

Captain Dhruv Jurel made 1 and Washington Sundar went without scoring. Padikkal, at No. 3, top-scored among the specialists with 32 from 77 balls, an innings of nearly two hours.

Yash Rathod finished unbeaten on 44 from 49 balls with three fours and three sixes, adding the runs that carried India A past 100 before Keene had Mukesh Choudhary for his fifth wicket. Zak Gibson took 3-29.

Mariu and Foxcroft build the lead

New Zealand A’s 317 took 89.3 overs and was built around Rhys Mariu’s 76 from 137 balls, with Dean Foxcroft making 51.

Curtis Heaphy contributed 44 and Kristian Clarke 42, while wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay made 24. Five New Zealand A batters passed 20, and the hosts resumed the second day on 135 for 3.

India A also gave away 46 extras, more than any New Zealand A batter managed apart from Mariu.

Kamboj and Nabi share six

Anshul Kamboj was the pick of the India A attack with 3-52, and Auqib Nabi matched him for wickets with 3-69.

Akash Deep took two, bowling Clarke to end the innings, while Mukesh Choudhary finished with 1-67 and Washington Sundar, who removed Foxcroft, with 1-29.

The openers fail again

Jaiswal went for 5 from nine balls in the second innings and Rahul for 4 from 15, an inside edge deflecting into his stumps, leaving India A 10 for 2.

Keene and Sheat took the wickets, closing the day with 1-19 and 1-26. The third-wicket pair have so far batted 188 balls together.

Padikkal was dropped at second slip off Clarke early in his innings before settling, and reached his fifty with nine boundaries. Sudharsan’s 39 came from 104 balls and included five fours.

Two days to save it

India A need a further 98 to make New Zealand A bat again, with Jurel, Rathod and Washington Sundar still to come.

The match is the first of three four-day fixtures. The second starts at Hagley Oval on October 31 and the third returns to Lincoln on November 7.

Scorecard: New Zealand A 317 (89.3 overs) lead India A 113 (39.3 overs) and 106 for 2 (36 overs) by 98 runs.

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