Day one of the unofficial Test between the two A sides in Lincoln ended with New Zealand A holding a 22‑run advantage over India A. After winning the toss, the home side chose to field first on a green‑topped wicket that offered ample seam and swing. The visitors struggled against the moving ball, managing just 113 runs in 39.2 overs before being dismissed.
India A’s batting woes
The innings began with the loss of opening batsman KL Rahul, who was caught attempting a risky shot and was out without scoring. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had survived the first few deliveries, eventually fell for 17 after edging a delivery to first slip. Early breakthroughs continued as Simon Keene dismissed Sai Sudharsan for a duck, followed shortly by captain Dhruv Jurel, who made just one run before a collision with Fraser Sheat forced a run‑out.
Devdutt Padikkal, promoted to number three, provided a brief respite with a steady 32 before edging a delivery to the keeper at the start of the second session. At that point, India A found themselves precariously placed at 56 for five. The middle order offered little resistance; Washington Sundar was dismissed without scoring, and the lower order failed to add meaningful runs.
Anshul Kamboj managed a couple of boundaries but was soon caught at deep fine leg. Within three balls, Auqib Nabi and Akash Deep also fell, leaving the side at 81 for nine. With the innings teetering on the brink of a double‑digit total, Yash Rathod steadied the ship, launching an aggressive counter‑attack that included three sixes. Rathod remained unbeaten on 44, ensuring the visitors posted a total of 113. The final wicket fell when Simon Keene removed Mukesh Choudhary for his fifth wicket, completing the collapse.
New Zealand A’s steady reply
In response, New Zealand A’s openers Curtis Heaphy and captain Rhys Mariu navigated the same challenging conditions with composure. Early chances fell to the Indian side; Akash Deep induced a false shot in the sixth over, but Jaiswal’s edge was caught at third slip, preventing a breakthrough. Mariu, unbeaten on five at the close of the first session, continued to build his innings patiently, eventually reaching a half‑century in the final session. He displayed a mix of defensive technique and selective aggression, adding a few powerful boundaries.
Heaphy contributed a solid 37 not out, supporting the captain as the partnership surpassed the 100‑run mark. The seamers kept probing, but the pair managed to rotate the strike and capitalize on loose deliveries. When Mukesh Choudhary finally broke through, he trapped Mariu in front for 76, ending the partnership.
Following the dismissal, night‑watchman Jayden Lennox was taken by Auqib Nabi, who then claimed Tim Robinson leg before off in the very next ball, putting himself within striking distance of a hat‑trick. With only one over remaining in the day, Nabi would have to wait until the start of day two to complete the feat. New Zealand A concluded the session at 135 for three, leading by 22 runs.
Key bowling performances
Simon Keene was the standout bowler for the hosts, finishing with figures of five wickets for 24 runs. His early spell set the tone, removing three top‑order batsmen in quick succession and maintaining relentless pressure throughout the innings. Zak Gibson also chipped in with three wickets for 29 runs, providing crucial support.
For India A, the most notable bowling effort came from Auqib Nabi, who claimed two wickets for 31 runs and flirted with a hat‑trick. Mukesh Choudhary, despite a modest return of one wicket for 30 runs, bowled a tight spell that kept the New Zealand side from accelerating further.
The day’s statistics underline the influence of the green top. Seamers on both sides extracted movement, and the batting line‑ups struggled to settle. While New Zealand A managed to build a partnership that crossed the century threshold, India A’s top order collapsed repeatedly, highlighting the difficulty of batting under such conditions.
Looking ahead, the result sets up an intriguing contest for the second day. New Zealand A will aim to extend their lead, while India A will look to regroup and adapt to the seam‑friendly pitch. The performances of emerging talents such as Devdutt Padikkal, Yash Rathod and Rhys Mariu will be closely watched as the unofficial Test progresses toward its conclusion.
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