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Auqib Nabi's two in two keeps India A alive as New Zealand A lead by 22 in Lincoln
The hosts were 132 without loss before three wickets fell for no runs late on day one. India A, bowled out for 113, go into day two needing quick wickets.
Key points
- New Zealand A closed day one on 135 for three, a lead of 22.
- Rhys Mariu made 76 off 117 balls in an opening stand of 132 with Curtis Heaphy.
- Auqib Nabi took two wickets in two balls after Mukesh Choudhary broke the stand.
Auqib Nabi gave India A something to hold on to at the end of a difficult first day of the opening unofficial Test against New Zealand A at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, with two wickets in two balls just as the hosts threatened to run away with the match.
New Zealand A closed on 135 for three, a lead of 22 over India A’s 113, ahead of the second day on Sunday.
For most of the day it was one-way traffic. Rhys Mariu, the New Zealand A captain, and Curtis Heaphy put on 132 for the first wicket. Mariu made 76 off 117 balls with 12 boundaries before Mukesh Choudhary had him caught in the 39th over.
Nabi then removed Jayden Lennox and Tim Robinson with consecutive deliveries, and in the space of a few balls the hosts went from 132 without loss to 132 for three. Heaphy was unbeaten on 37 at stumps, with Matthew Boyle on 1.
A collapse to repair
India A’s batting had let them down earlier. KL Rahul fell for an eight-ball duck in the third over, and Sai Sudharsan was bowled by Simon Keene for a 13-ball duck. Keene went on to take five wickets. Captain Dhruv Jurel made 1 and Washington Sundar 0.
Only Devdutt Padikkal, with 32, and Yash Rathod, unbeaten on 44 with three sixes, held up New Zealand A for long. Zak Gibson took three wickets.
With three days left, India A need early wickets on the second day to keep the deficit small. The second unofficial Test starts at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on 31 October, and the third is back in Lincoln from 7 November.