Ankit Bawne cracked an impressive century (116 batting, 166b, 13x4, 4x6), and Shreyas Iyer and Parthiv Patel notched up fifties, to help India-A take a 149-run lead against New Zealand-A on the second day of the four-day ‘Test’ at the Mulapadu Cricket Complex.
Resuming on 33 for one, in reply to the visitors’ modest 211, India-A made 360 for four before bad light ended Sunday’s play with 17 overs remaining.
Shreyas served another reminder of his abundant talent with a stroke-filled 82 (79b, 10x4, 2x6).
The ease with which he batted was in striking contrast to the cautious approach of Priyank Panchal, with whom he put on 133 for the second wicket.
Panchal, too, looked good, if not as dominant as his partner.
Shreyas’ knock was laced with some excellent shots either side of the wicket, the massive six over long-on off leg-spinner Ish Sodhi the pick of them for sheer timing. But just as he looked set for a second straight century of the series, he perished, driving Sodhi uppishly to short-cover.
India-A lost Panchal and captain Karun Nair, who failed to get going despite getting a decent start, after the lunch break.
Then, it was the Bawne show, the 24-year-old combining the required discipline with the ability to clear the fence — he celebrated his six over mid-wicket off Sodhi in the style of Cristiano Ronaldo, after scoring a goal.
At the other end, the enterprising Parthiv (56 batting, 78b, 4x4, 1x6) was a picture of confidence.
The experienced wicketkeeper-batsman was a sobering influence on his younger partner during the unbroken 154-run stand for the fifth wicket. It was apparent at the end of the day’s play that New Zealand-A had only one option left in the match — save it.
The scores: New Zealand-A — 1st innings: 211
India-A — 1st innings: R. Samarth lbw b Rance 0, Priyank Panchal c Bruce b Kuggeleijn 46, Shreyas Iyer c Young b Sodhi 82, Karun Nair c & b Sodhi 43, Ankit Bawne (batting) 116, Parthiv Patel (batting) 56; Extras (b-4, lb-5, nb-8) 17; Total: (for four wkts. in 82 overs): 360.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-133, 3-142, 4-206.
New Zealand-A bowling: Rance 10-4-20-1, Kuggeleijn 13-2-58-1, Sodhi 19-0-107-2, Worker 13-2-54-0, Munro 11-3-20-0, Ferguson 8-1-42-0, Bruce 7-0-39-0, Raval 1-0-11-0.
