Siraj, Mukesh warm up for Test series as 2nd unofficial Test heads for draw

Brief Scores: India A (346 & 32/0) Jaiswal 20* trail New Zealand A (424) Boyle 110, Foxcroft 93 by 46 runs at Stumps on Day 3

Mohammed Siraj and Mukesh Kumar shared nine wickets between them but New Zealand A’s lower-order resistance left India A with work to do on Day 3 of the second unofficial Test in Christchurch on Sunday.

In reply to India A’s first innings total of 346, New Zealand A were bowled out for 424, taking a 78-run lead. India A reached 32 for no loss at stumps, with Yashasvi Jaiswal unbeaten on 20 and Sai Sudharsan on 11. They trail by 46 runs going into the final day, with a draw looking the most likely outcome on a pitch that offered little help to the bowlers.

Siraj finished with figures of 4/118 from 35 overs while Mukesh returned 5/87 in 29 overs. The two pacers accounted for all the wickets as India A struggled to deny the hosts’ lower order.

The performance will offer both players useful match practice ahead of India’s upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand, although resistance from the home side meant India A could not build a substantial advantage.

NEW ZEALAND FRUSTRATED INDIA

New Zealand A continued on Day 3 with a finely crafted innings but India A struck early. Siraj removed Matthew Boyle who scored 110 with Devdutt Padikkal taking a superb catch. Temper also dismissed Dean Foxcroft, who had made 93, ending the stand of two batsmen who had occupied the crease for most of the previous day’s play.

India A continued to pick up the wickets and reduced New Zealand A to 291/7. However, the home order turned the innings around, adding valuable runs and eventually taking the lead.

Kristian Clarke and Fraser Sheat put on 47 runs for the eighth wicket before Mukesh dismissed Clarke. Sheat then combined with Jayden Lennox to add another 31 runs for the ninth wicket, further frustrating the visitors.

Mukesh eventually removed both Sheat and Lennox to complete his five-wicket haul, the 12th of his first-class career. But not before New Zealand A’s last pair made India A work hard for the last wicket.

Jarrod McKay and Lennox added 55 runs in 24.5 overs, batting for more than an hour in the final over, extending the hosts’ lead to 78. Their resistance ensured New Zealand A finished with a healthy lead despite being reduced to 338/8 earlier in the innings.

JAISWAL, SUDHARSAN SEE DEN

India A had 11 overs to bowl before stumps and did so without losing a wicket. Jaiswal and Sudharsan looked composed against the new ball, using their legs to counter-move and reduce the deficit to 46 runs.

With the pitch still good for batting and little help offered to the bowlers, India A will look to build a quick lead on the final day. However, time remaining and the conditions suggest a draw is the most likely outcome.

– The end