1st unofficial Test: Padikkal rescues India after Jaiswal, KL Rahul fail again
Brief Scores: India A (113, 106/) trail New Zealand A (317) by 98 runs. (Padikkal 56*; Keene 1/19, Sheat 1/26).
Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan steadied India A after another disappointing outing for openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul left the visitors in trouble on Day 2 of the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A. The pair put together an unbeaten 96-run stand for the third wicket to help India A reach 106 for 2 in their second innings at stumps, although they still trail the hosts by 98 runs.
New Zealand A dominated much of the day after resuming at 135 for 3 and posting 317 all out in 89.3 overs in reply to India’s first-innings total of 113. The hosts secured a substantial lead of 204 runs before their bowlers struck twice early in India’s second innings, putting the visitors under pressure once again.
Jaiswal and Rahul had little time to settle after India A began their second innings late in the second session. Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck in the opening overs, while Rahul’s innings ended in an unusual fashion as India A slipped to 10 for 2.
Zak Gibson removed Jaiswal with a sharp delivery aimed at his left shoulder. The left-hander was unable to get out of the way in time, and the ball brushed his gloves before Matthew Boyle took the catch at slip.
Rahul’s dismissal was more unfortunate. Having struck his first boundary after facing 11 deliveries, the right-hander inside-edged the next ball towards his stumps. As he turned to keep the ball away, Rahul inadvertently struck the stumps with his bat and was bowled.
PADIKKAL, SUDHARSAN STABILISE INDIA A
With two early wickets gone, Padikkal and Sudharsan joined hands to prevent another collapse. Padikkal remained unbeaten on 56 off 89 balls, striking nine boundaries, while Sudharsan made 39 not out from 104 deliveries, with five fours. Their partnership took India A to 106 for 2 after 36 overs, leaving the side with two days of the four-day match still to play.
Padikkal was also India’s most successful specialist batter in the first innings, scoring 32 off 77 balls at No. 3. His ability to spend time at the crease could prove important as India A attempt to erase the deficit and put the hosts under pressure.
The Karnataka batter has been in strong red-ball form in recent months. He was India’s leading batter during the two-Test series in Sri Lanka in August and followed that with a half-century against Australia A in Puducherry.
India A will need the partnership to continue on Monday, with captain Dhruv Jurel, Yas Rathod and Washington Sundar among those expected to contribute if the visitors are to build a competitive position in the match.
NEW ZEALAND A BUILD BIG LEAD
Earlier in the day, New Zealand A turned their overnight position of 135 for 3 into a commanding first-innings total of 317. Captain Rhys Mariu led the way with a patient 76 off 137 balls, while Dean Foxcroft scored 51. Opener Curtis Heaphy contributed 44, Kristian Clarke made 42 and wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay added 24.
India’s bowlers shared the wickets but struggled to maintain discipline, conceding 46 runs in extras. Anshul Kamboj and Auqib Nabi claimed three wickets apiece, with Kamboj returning figures of 3 for 52 and Nabi taking 3 for 69. Akash Deep picked up two wickets, while Mukesh Choudhary and Washington Sundar took one each.
Despite the late recovery from Padikkal and Sudharsan, India A remain behind in the contest. Their immediate task on Day 3 will be to turn the promising third-wicket stand into a substantial partnership and reduce the deficit before attempting to set New Zealand A a target.
– Ends
