Matthew Boyle made 110 and Dean Foxcroft 93 as New Zealand A rallied to 424 and a 78-run first-innings lead over India A in Christchurch. Mukesh Kumar took 5 for 87 and Mohammed Siraj 4 for 118; India A closed day three on 32 without loss.
Christchurch, New Zealand: India A took seven wickets on the third day at Hagley Oval, and it still was not enough to keep control of the second unofficial Test. New Zealand A began the morning on 218 for 3, behind India A’s 346, and finished their innings 78 ahead on 424, leaving the visitors to spend the final 11 overs of the day starting again.
Boyle and Foxcroft carry the innings
The overnight pair had already put on 208 for the fourth wicket, and it was Siraj who ended the stand early on day three. Boyle, on 110, was caught by Devdutt Padikkal at slip, a catch the match reports describe as one-handed. His innings came off 152 balls and included 14 fours and a six.
Foxcroft followed on 93, trapped lbw by Siraj after the second new ball. The hundred that had looked within reach for most of the innings slipped away by seven runs.
Mukesh keeps India A in the contest
Mukesh then had Mitchell Hay caught behind for 31 and kept the pressure on. He finished with 5 for 87 and Siraj with 4 for 118, so the two pacemen shared nine of the ten wickets, with Washington Sundar taking the other. Siraj had joined this India A group for red-ball preparation, as the BCCI announced on Friday.
The tail stretches the lead
The late order was what frustrated India A. Fraser Sheat made 40 and Kristian Clarke 41, and the last wicket added 55 before Sundar bowled Jarrod McKay for 33 off 75 balls. Chances went down along the way, and New Zealand A turned a deficit into a lead that puts them ahead in the match.
Jaiswal and Sudharsan survive the evening
With India A needing to start their second innings from behind, Yashasvi Jaiswal and B Sai Sudharsan saw out 11 overs without losing a wicket. They finished on 20 and 11 not out, cutting the deficit to 46. India A resume on the final day needing to bat for long periods if they are to set a target that means anything.
Day 3 close of play: New Zealand A 424 all out (Matthew Boyle 110, Dean Foxcroft 93, Kristian Clarke 41, Fraser Sheat 40, Jarrod McKay 33; Mukesh Kumar 5/87, Mohammed Siraj 4/118) lead India A 346 all out and 32/0 in the second innings (Yashasvi Jaiswal 20*, B Sai Sudharsan 11*); India A trail by 46 runs.
