India A fall one wicket short as first unofficial Test against New Zealand A ends in draw

The first unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A ended in a draw because of bad light. The decision was a blow to the Indian side, as it needed only one wicket for victory when play was stopped.

New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl. India A batted poorly and were bowled out for just 113. Yash Rathod top-scored with 44, while Devdutt Padikkal was the second-highest scorer with 32.

New Zealand then batted. Captain Rice Mariu made 76 and Dean Foxcroft scored 51, and the visitors made 317 in the first innings to take a lead of 204.

India fought back strongly in the second innings, posting a big total of 516. Padikkal, who came in at number three, scored 199 off 248 balls with 24 fours and three sixes, falling one run short of a double century. Sai Sudharsan also missed a hundred, making 91 off 184 balls with 12 fours. Rathod scored 66 and Washington Sundar 52.

New Zealand were thus set a target of 313 to win. But in the second innings the Kiwi side could not hold out against the Indian bowlers and lost nine wickets for 187. With an hour of play still remaining, play had to be stopped because of bad light. The match was finally declared a draw. India were left dejected, as a match they had all but won slipped away.

There is also a concern for India. The opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and K. L. Rahul failed in both innings. Jaiswal scored 17 in the first innings and 5 in the second. Rahul did not open his account in the first innings and managed only 4 in the second. Both are due to open for the Indian senior team in the Test series against New Zealand.