Padikkal, Sudharsan steady India A at 98-run deficit in Lincoln
- Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan are unbeaten at stumps on Day 2.
- India A trails New Zealand A by 98 runs in the first unofficial Test.
- Openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal were dismissed cheaply in both innings.
- New Zealand A established a 204-run first-innings lead.
- Anshul Kamboj and Auqib Nabi each claimed three wickets for India A.
Devdutt Padikkal and B Sai Sudharsan have stabilised the India A innings against New Zealand A during the first four-day unofficial Test at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. At the conclusion of play on the second day, the pair remained at the crease to keep the side in the contest.
This recovery effort follows an early collapse that saw the top order struggle to establish a base against the New Zealand A bowling attack. After India A was reduced to 10 for 2, Padikkal and Sudharsan built a significant third-wicket partnership.
Cricinfo reported the duo added 96 runs over 188 balls. Rediff stated the stand for the third wicket reached 88 runs.
Padikkal finished the day unbeaten on 56, while Sudharsan was not out on 39. The team ended Day 2 at 106 for 2, trailing New Zealand A by 98 runs.
Rahul and Jaiswal fail again at the crease
The opening pair of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal struggled throughout the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A. In the first innings, India A were dismissed for 113, with Rahul and Sai Sudharsan both recording ducks. New Zealand pacers struck late on the opening day to put pressure on the Indian side.
Jaiswal scored 17 and 5 across his two innings, while Rahul managed 0 and 4. The pair faced a total of 77 balls in Lincoln, with Jaiswal accounting for 45 of those deliveries during the first innings.
In the second innings, Jaiswal was caught behind for five after failing to evade a short ball from fast bowler Simon Keene. Rahul was dismissed hit wicket off Fraser Sheat for four, leaving India A at 10 for 2 in the fifth over.
New Zealand A secure 204-run first-innings lead
New Zealand A posted 317 in their first innings, securing a 204-run lead over India A. The side resumed on their overnight score of 135 for 3, already ahead by 22 runs.
Anshul Kamboj reduced New Zealand A to 218 for 7 by removing Curtis Heaphy for 44, Matthew Boyce for 17, and Simon Keene for 4. Auqib Nabi also claimed three wickets as India A attempted to contain the scoring.
Dean Foxcroft scored 51, having made his 17th first-class fifty during a 33-run eighth-wicket stand with Kristian Clarke. Washington Sundar trapped Foxcroft for 51 in the 77th over, leaving New Zealand A with a lead of 149 at the drinks break.
Mitchell Hay contributed 24 before the last four wickets added 112 runs to the total. Clarke, who scored 42, switched gears after the break to score 33 runs from his final 34 deliveries while flaying boundaries off the quick bowlers.
Clarke dominated the last-wicket stand with Zak Gibson by launching a six each off Akash Deep and Kamboj. Akash Deep eventually bowled Clarke for 42, concluding the New Zealand A innings. The total was aided by 46 extras conceded by India A across 89.3 overs.
India A bowling figures in the first innings
Anshul Kamboj recorded figures of 3/52 for India A, while Auqib Nabi contributed 3/69 during the first innings. Akash Deep took 2/57, and Mukesh Choudhary and Washington Sundar each secured one wicket.
Selection pressure ahead of November Test series
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul are expected to open in the Test series starting in the third week of November, with little time remaining in the middle order. Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan are currently competing for the number 3 position and have both made a solid case for themselves.
Harsha Bhogle criticizes pitch conditions
Harsha Bhogle criticised the pitch conditions as "bland, heartless" following a Dhruv Jurel-led India A collapse in New Zealand.
Details of the Padikkal and Sudharsan innings
Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan came together in the fifth over after Rahul was dismissed hit-wicket while attempting to push the ball away as it trickled towards the stumps off the inside edge. Padikkal was dropped in the slips on 19 Devdutt Padikkal remained unbeaten on 56 at stumps on Day 2. Sai Sudharsan maintained a chanceless 104-ball innings.
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