Lincoln, Oct 24 (PTI) Indian batters found the going tough On a green top wicket as a star-studded India A folded for a paltry 113 on the opening day of the unofficial Test against New Zealand A here on Saturday.
Auqib Nabi dismissed Kiwi batters Jayden Lennox (0) and Tim Robinson (0) on consecutive deliveries to reduce New Zealand A at 135 for three, ahead by 22 runs, when the stumps were drawn at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval.
The right-arm seamer Simon Keene caused the maximum damage to the visitors with a fifer (5/24), troubling the Indian middle and lower order.
India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (17 off 45 balls) yet again struggled to convert a good start into a substantial knock, edging one to slip cordon off Zak Gibson (3/29) while his opening partner KL Rahul could not open his account, nicking a Fraser Sheat delivery behind.
At No. 3, Devdutt Padikkal was the most successful among the specialist batters as he batted well for 32 off 77 balls, spending nearly two hours in the middle while hitting five boundaries.
There were as many as five ducks in the Indian innings, two from specialist batters and three from tail-enders.
If the Indian side was able to go past the 100-run mark, it was largely due to Vidarbha batter Yash Rathod’s unbeaten 44 at No. 6 — an innings in which he used the long handle to a good effect.
The left-handed Rathod smacked three sixes and as many fours to make his runs off only 49 balls, and could have added more had he not run out of partners.
Anshul Kamboj struck a couple of fours to make 10 towards the end.
India A made their first breakthrough only after New Zealand A had taken lead in the first innings, with skipper Rhys Mariu (76) and Curtis Heaphy (37 not out) putting 132 runs for the opening wicket.
Mukesh Choudhary pinned Mariu in front of the wickets for a well made 76 off 137 balls and 12 fours for the first wicket, after which Nabi struck twice in the penultimate over of the day.
The Jammu and Kashmir pacer Nabi, who has been touted as one of India’s potential weapons in the two-Test series against New Zealand, gave a good account of himself.
Nabi cleaned up nightwatchman Lennox before trapping Robinson in the last two deliveries to give the visitors a reason to smile after a largely gloomy day.
Brief Scores:
India A 1st innings: 113 in 39.3 overs (D Padikkal 32, Y Rathod 44 not out; Simon Keene 5/24).
New Zealand A 1st innings: 135/3 in 41 overs (Rhys Mariu 76, Curtis Heaphy 37 not out; Auqib Nabi 2/31. PTI DDV APS DDV APSAPS
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