Jaiswal's unbeaten 155 and Rathod's century help India A draw second unofficial Test against New Zealand A

The second unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A ended in a draw. The match is part of the preparation for the two-Test series starting on November 19. Yashasvi Jaiswal drew the most attention, returning unbeaten on 155 in the second innings after being dismissed for a duck in the first.

Jaiswal hit 15 fours and five sixes in his 162-ball innings. He had managed only 17 and 5 in the first practice match, so the knock was important for him. In Christchurch, India A were 35 for two at one stage in the second innings. Jaiswal and Yash Rathod then added an unbroken 247 runs in 40.2 overs, taking the score to 282 for two. Rathod finished on 100 not out.

Captain Dhruv Jurel had scored a century in the first innings, making 105, and did not get a chance to bat in the second. India got good batting practice in the match, while New Zealand bowled twice to test their fitness.

At the end of the third day, India A were 32 without loss in the second innings. On the fourth day, India first wiped out New Zealand's lead of 46 runs. Jaiswal resumed on an overnight 20. Sai Sudharsan, who had been unbeaten on 11, was out on the same score. In the very next over, Devdutt Padikkal was bowled first ball. Padikkal had made 80 in the first innings. Sudharsan had scored 41 and Rathod 13 in the first innings.

With the ball, Mohammed Siraj found his rhythm again, taking four wickets for 118 runs in 35 overs. Mukesh Kumar took five wickets for 87 in 29 overs. In New Zealand's innings, Matthew Boyle made 110 and Dean Foxcroft 93. Fraser Sheat added 40 at number nine. Number ten Jaden Lennox was unbeaten on 32, and number eleven Jarrod McKay scored 33.

The third and final unofficial Test will be played in Lincoln from November 7 to 10. Rishabh Pant will miss it, as he has not fully recovered from a rib muscle injury. Pant is rehabilitating at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He must pass a mandatory fitness test before joining the squad, which he has not yet done.

The 28-year-old star wicketkeeper-batter picked up a hamstring injury during the Irani Cup in Srinagar in October. Pant has scored Test centuries in England, Australia and South Africa. If he passes the second mandatory fitness test in a few days, he can join the squad directly in Wellington.