Lower-order runs put New Zealand A in front despite Siraj and Mukesh hauls

An overnight partnership of 208 was ended in the second over of the day. India A took four wickets in the opening session for just 73 runs to have New Zealand A 291 for 7 at lunch. A slender lead was in the offing, only for it to be scuttled by the lower-order resistance. The last three wickets kept the Indians on the field for a further 43 overs and the last-wicket stand stretched for nearly 25 overs to take the sheen off the Indian seamers' performance until then and give New Zealand A a 78-run first-innings lead.

India A openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and B Sai Sudharsan then saw off the 11 overs before stumps without much trouble. Jaiswal, who has made 17, 5 and 0 in three innings on this tour before this innings, looked assured and hit three fours in his stay. Both Sai Sudharsan and Jaiswal negotiated the little movement the new-ball bowlers generated, and were watchful. There was a brief scare on the final ball of the day, when Jaiswal walked down the track to a length ball from quick Brett Randell. He was squared up and the ball passed close to the outside edge. The umpire, though, did not uphold New Zealand A's appeal.

Earlier, Mohammed Siraj struck with his first ball of the day to have Matthew Boyle caught at slip for 110. Devdutt Padikkal, the lone slip fielder, flew to his left to take a one-handed catch almost behind him to end the huge partnership.

Four balls after India A took the second new ball, Siraj was at it again to deny Dean Foxcroft a century, trapping him lbw for 93. It was a contentious call, though, with Foxcroft taking a long stride towards off and the ball pinging him on the front pad.

The morning session was all about the India A seamers testing both sides of the New Zealand A batters' edges. After lunch, Akash Deep actually managed to get Fraser Sheat to edge one to first slip, only for R Smaran to shell the simple offering. Little did they know that it would prolong their stay on the field and cost them the lead.

By the time Mukesh had Sheat caught by Padikkal at slip for 40 to complete his five-wicket haul, New Zealand A were into the lead. The lead would have been nipped at 25 had Siraj not shelled Jayden Lennox at mid-off off Washington Sundar. Lennox and No. 11 Jarrod McKay then played within themselves and slowly stretched New Zealand A's lead. They were even happy to play out five maidens in seven overs on either side of the tea interval.

Siraj's desperation for a five-for only played into New Zealand A's hands. They took full toll whenever a tired Siraj went off radar in a prolonged spell or Akash Deep strayed on the pads to grow the lead. India A's ordeal only ended after a 55-run partnership when McKay misread an arm ball from Washington Sundar and was bowled for 33 off 75 balls, his highest score in first-class cricket.