NZ A vs IND A, 1st Test: Green pitch gives lessons to learn as Indians struggle on first outing

FILE PHOTO: KL Rahul was dismissed for an eight-ball duck during India A vs New Zealand A 1st unofficial Test in Lincoln. | Photo Credit: PTI

India A bowlers picking three wickets late on the opening day was the only positive highlight for the visiting side after New Zealand A dominated from the outset in the first unofficial Test at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln on Saturday.

Auqib Nabi picked two and Mukesh Choudhary got one as New Zealand finished at 135/3, taking a 22-run lead after India A was bowled out for 113 with Simon Keene picking a five-wicket haul.

Opening pair, Captain Rhys Mariu and Curtis Heaphy, took New Zealand past India’s score with much ease as visiting bowlers struggled to put pressure bowling defensive lengths.

Mariu, who had a close call when Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped a tough chance at third slip, reached his half-century off a boundary.

India A finally got its first wicket of the day in the penultimate over when Mukesh Choudhary pinned Mariu. Four balls later, Nabi cleaned up nightwatchman Jayden Lennox who shouldered arms on a delivery that angled in. The next ball, Nabi trapped Tim Robinson in front, giving India A something to smile about.

Earlier, NZ A put the visitors to bat on a green top and Fraser Sheat struck immediately, getting KL Rahul caught in the slips in the third over.

Jaiswal hit a couple of fours but struggled to control his defence otherwise. Zak Gibson made use of the sideways movement and eventually had the left-hander caught at first slip.

Keene got his first wicket when Sai Sudharsan was bowled trying to play through the on side and then had Dhruv Jurel caught in the cordon two overs later.

Devdutt Padikkal looked good while he lasted, scoring 32 off 77 balls. Gibson had him edge to the slips with a ball that went away from the left-hander. An over later, Washington Sundar was sent back getting caught in the same region.

Yash Rathod, meanwhile, looked to settle India’s innings from the other end. He increased the scoring rate as Indian batters kept coming and going. Rathod scored 44 off 49 balls to take India past the three-figure mark and remained stranded as Keene took five wickets to bowl India out inside 40 overs.