Lincoln, Oct 25 (PTI) Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan batted resolutely to guide India A to 106 for 2 in their second innings after yet another disappointing show by the openers on the second day of the four-day unofficial Test against New Zealand A here on Sunday.
For the second time in the match, openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul flopped with the bat, leaving India A reeling at 10 for 2 in the second innings before Padikkal (56 not out off 89 balls) and Sudharsan (39 not out off 104 balls) joined hands to stabilise the innings with an unbeaten 96-run stand for the third wicket.
India A, who were dismissed for a precarious 113 in the first innings, now trail New Zealand A by 98 runs with two days of play remaining and Padikkal and Sudharsan well set at the crease.
Padikkal was the aggressor in the partnership, decorating his innings with nine boundaries, while Sudharsan played second fiddle, hitting five fours during his unbeaten knock.
Batting at No. 3, Padikkal was also the most successful among the specialist batters for India A in the first innings, scoring 32 off 77 balls and spending nearly two hours at the crease.
On Monday, Padikkal and Sudharsan will look to continue in the same vein and build on their partnership to enable India A to set New Zealand A a challenging target.
The visitors will also look for meaningful contributions from skipper Dhruv Jurel, Yas Rathod and Washington Sundar.
Earlier, resuming at 135 for 3, New Zealand A were all out for 317 in 89.3 overs.
Skipper Rhys Mariu top-scored for the hosts with a patient 76 off 137 balls, while Dean Foxcroft made 51. Opener Curtis Heaphy (44), Kristian Clarke (42) and wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay (24) were the other notable contributors for New Zealand A.
India’s bowlers lacked discipline, conceding an astonishing 46 runs in extras.
The pace duo of Anshul Kamboj (3/52) and Auqib Nabi (3/69) shared six wickets between them, while Akash Deep accounted for two New Zealand A batters. Mukesh Choudhary (1/67) and Washington Sundar (1/29) picked up a wicket each as New Zealand A took a sizeable first-innings lead of 204 runs.
Brief Scores:
India A: 113 and 106 for 2 in 36 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 56 batting, Sai Sudharsan 39 batting; Simon Keene 1/19, Fraser Sheat 1/26).
New Zealand A (overnight 135/3 in 41 overs): 317 all out in 89.3 overs (Rhys Mariu 76, Dean Foxcroft 51; Anshul Kamboj 3/52, Auqib Nabi 3/69). India A trail by 98 runs. PTI SSC
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