Padikkal falls for 199 as India A batter given out on a faulty umpiring call against New Zealand A

India A batter Devdutt Padikkal missed a double century by a single run. He is playing for India A in the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A, and walked back to the pavilion on 199.

Batting at number three, Padikkal faced 248 balls and scored 199, with 24 fours and three sixes. The innings ended painfully, as he was dismissed because of a wrong umpiring decision.

The ball was going down the leg side and Padikkal was given out caught. Replays show the ball did not touch his bat. Padikkal tried to flick the ball on the leg side, but it hit his pad and then went into the wicketkeeper's hands. The appeal from New Zealand A was a mild one, but the umpire raised his finger. Padikkal was stunned by the decision and also showed his protest.

There is no DRS in this three-match unofficial Test series between India A and New Zealand A, so the umpire's decision could not be challenged. Shocked and dejected, Padikkal had to return to the pavilion. For the 26-year-old, it was his 12th hundred in first-class cricket. In four Tests for India, he has scored two hundreds.

At the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, India A had trailed by 204 runs in the first innings. Their first innings ended on just 113, while New Zealand A made 317 in reply. In the second innings, India A had lost two wickets for 10 runs. Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan then added 215 together.

Sudharsan was out for 91. Captain Dhruv Jurel made only two. Padikkal then added 142 runs in 142 balls for the fifth wicket with Yash Rathod. By tea on the third day, India A had scored 377 for five. The team's lead in the second innings is now 173 runs.