Shillong: Bad light forced a draw Tuesday in the first unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A. Pacer Auqib Nabi dominated early, tearing through the home team's top order. He finished with 3/28 in ten overs. India A had set a target of 313 after posting 516 in their second innings.
New Zealand A slumped to 187 for 9 as conditions worsened. The umpires halted play with 17 overs remaining because of poor visibility. Players braved cold, blustery conditions in Lincoln. KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Devdutt Padikkal wore beanies to stay warm.
Nabi struck early, dismissing skipper Rhys Mariu, Tim Robinson, and Matthew Boyle. Mukesh Choudhary also chipped in with wickets. Even Padikkal bowled off-breaks to find breakthroughs. Curtis Heaphy anchored the hosts with 90 not out, surviving until the end with tailender Jayden Lennox. The umpires eventually barred fast bowling, forcing Choudhary to bowl left-arm spin from two steps.
India A's management sought better scores from regulars. Rahul finished with 0 and 4, while Jaiswal managed 17 and 5. Captain Dhruv Jurel scored 1 and 2. The team's fighting spirit hinged on Padikkal, who hit a massive 199. Akash Deep contributed 25 off 17 balls, clearing the ropes three times to push the lead.
Yash Rathod impressed with scores of 44 and 66. The Vidarbha native showed calm under pressure. "The left-handed Rathod, who hails from Vidarbha, was the only uncapped batter in the top six and his temperament is something that chairman of selectors Pragyan Ojha would take note of."
India A finishes the match with momentum. They prepare for the next encounter at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 31. The senior Test series begins November 19.
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