Tilak, Jurel, Prasidh dazzle for India A in Lincoln

B Sai Sudharsan, who began the day on 77, and Jurel missed out on potential centuries, while Tilak and Washington frustrated an attack missing two frontline quicks. India A took their time and tired out the hosts before finally declaring in the third session.

But more importantly, Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh got some crucial overs under their belts ahead of the Test series against New Zealand on a pitch that still had plenty to offer for the fast bowlers.

After the declaration, all eyes were on Bumrah, playing his first first-class game since the Guwahati Test against South Africa nearly a year ago, and he began with a maiden and even drew a leg-before appeal. But it was Prasidh who looked more threatening.

Bumrah got the ball to move in the air and off the seam, but was often going too wide or straying onto the pads. Prasidh, though, kept threatening the outside edge with out-swingers close to the stumps, and got one of them to nip back in to castle Rhys Mariu, who drove down the wrong line.

Prasidh nearly had a second when he had Curtis Heaphy edging to third slip, only for Sai Sudharsan to drop the chance. Heaphy, who had copped a blow to his right arm while fielding at short leg earlier, also had to suffer a few more as Prasidh and Bumrah struck him high on the thighs. Prasidh also struck him on the elbow, which led to some bleeding as the physio came out to attend to him.

Heaphy fought through, and was proactive in trying to get runs. He even drove Prasidh down the ground for New Zealand A's first boundary, but Prasidh eventually got his man when he pinned him in front with another nip-backer.

Dean Foxcroft, who ended up having to bowl 30 overs during India A's innings, and nightwatcher Zak Gibson, saw out the rest of the day, as Bumrah finished wicketless after a six-over spell. Mukesh Choudhary and Mukesh Kumar gave the batters a few scares too.

Earlier, after seeing off the first four overs, India A were offered the first few looseners, and Jurel cashed in as he put away a couple of half-trackers from part-time offspinner Foxcroft for a four and a six over midwicket. Another short ball in Foxcroft's next over was dispatched over square leg by Jurel as he moved from 19 off 42 to 39 off 56.

However, the scoring slowed down again when New Zealand A took the second new ball, and Zak Gibson got the breakthrough with a full ball that nipped back in a touch through Sai Sudharsan's defence to bowl him for 88 off 255 deliveries, having added 11 runs to his overnight score.

Jurel tickled the next ball fine down the leg side for a boundary that brought up his half-century and brought up India A's 300 with a square driven four and cut the next ball for four more.

Jurel took on another short ball, but top edged to deep backward square, where New Zealand A (Heaphy 19, Foxcroft 10*, Prasidh 2-12) trail India A 464 for 5 dec (Jaiswal 102, Sai Sudharsan 88, Tilak 81*, Gibson 2-73) by 428 runs

Prasidh Krishna removed New Zealand A's openers after half-centuries from Dhruv Jurel, Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar on Day 2 helped India A post 464 for 5 as the visitors extended their control on third four-dayer against New Zealand A in Lincoln.

B Sai Sudharsan, who began the day on 77, and Jurel missed out on potential centuries, while Tilak and Washington helped frustrate an attack missing two frontline quicks, as India A took their time and tired out the hosts before finally declaring in the third session.

But more importantly, Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh got some crucial overs under their belts ahead of the Test series against New Zealand on a pitch that still had plenty to offer for the fast bowlers.

After the declaration, all eyes were on Bumrah, playing his first first-class game since the Guwahati Test against South Africa nearly a year ago, and he began with a maiden and even drew a leg-before appeal. But it was Prasidh who looked more threatening.

Bumrah got the ball to move in the air and off the seam, but was often going too wide or straying onto the pads. But Prasidh kept threatening the outside edge with outswingers close to the stumps, and got one of them to nip back in to castle Rhys Mariu, who drove down the wrong line.

Prasidh nearly had a second when he had Curtis Heaphy edging to third slip, only for Sai Sudharsan to drop the chance. Heaphy, who had copped a blow to his right arm while fielding at short leg earlier, also had to suffer a few more as Prasidh and Bumrah struck him high on the thighs. Prasidh also struck him on the elbow, which led to some bleeding as the physio came out to attend to him.

Heaphy fought through, and was proactive in trying to get runs. He even drove Prasidh down the ground for New Zealand A's first boundary, but Prasidh eventually got his man when he pinned him in front with another nip-backer.

Dean Foxcroft, who ended up having to bowl 30 overs during India A's innings, and nightwatcher Zak Gibson, saw out the rest of the day, as Bumrah finished wicketless after a six-over spell, even as Mukesh Choudhary and Mukesh Kumar gave the batters a few scares.

Earlier, after seeing off the first four overs, India A were offered the first few looseners, and Jurel cashed in as he put away a couple of half-trackers from part-time offspinner Dean Foxcroft for a four and a six over midwicket. Another short ball in Foxcroft's next over was dispatched over square leg by Jurel as he moved from 19 off 42 to 39 off 56.

However, the scoring slowed down again when New Zealand A took the second new ball, and Zak Gibson got the breakthrough with a full ball that nipped back in a touch through Sai Sudharsan's defence to bowl him for 88 off 255 deliveries, having added 11 runs to his overnight score.

Jurel tickled the next ball fine down the leg side for a boundary that brought up his half-century and brought up India A's 300 with a square driven four and cut the next ball for four more.

Jurel took on another short ball, but top edged to deep backward square, where Alex Stead - son of former New Zealand batter and head coach Gary Stead who is a student at Lincoln University and a part-time groundstaff filling in as a substitute fielder - took the catch.

Tilak and Ravindra Jadeja ticked along to lunch, taking India A to 331 for 4, with New Zealand A having to use part-timers in Tim Robinson, Foxcroft and Matthew Boyle in the absence of Jarrod McKay and Danru Ferns. McKay didn't bowl at all in the day, due to a side strain, while Ferns injured his back while bowling on the day and had to be taken off mid-over.

After lunch, Gibson prised out Jadeja with a length ball that held its line to take a thick outside edge to slip. Tilak and Washington meandered through the rest of the session, with the only real moment of intent coming when Tilak stepped out to Foxcroft to loft him down the ground. The 400 came up in the first over after tea and Tilak brought up his fifty a couple of overs later.

Mariu became the ninth bowler used by New Zealand A when he relieved Foxcroft after a lengthy spell, and Tilak slog-swept him for six off the first ball of his second over.

Washington, who got his first boundary off a tickle down the leg side, cut Mariu fine on the off side for his second before Tilak unfurled another slog sweep as India A looked to up the tempo. Washington picked up a single to long-off in the same over to bring up his fifty, which also prompted India A's declaration.