The India ‘A’-New Zealand ‘A’ four-day match expectedly ended in a draw with rain and bad light bringing an early end to the contest at the ACA-VDCA stadium on Thursday.
It was a disappointing day for the home team as Manpreet Juneja missed a double century. The team also conceded the first innings lead as pacer Mark Gillespie picked up a wicket in three consecutive overs to restrict India to 430, seven short of the Kiwis’ score.
New Zealand ‘A’ was 176 for three in its second essay when the match was called off. Captain Tom Latham and Carl Cachopa notched up half-centuries.
When Juneja resumed on 178, everyone expected him to complete his second double century in what is his 12th first class match, going by his solidity.
In the eighth over of the day, Gillespie took a one-handed diving catch on his follow-through to send back Dhawal Kulkarni and break the 54-run eighth-wicket stand with Juneja.
In the next over, Juneja drove Gillespie to Anderson at short mid-wicket after scoring 193 (362b, 20x4, 1x6). The Kiwi then castled Imtiaz Ahmed at the same total to end the Indian innings.
After Kulkarni trapped Neil Broom in front in the second over of the New Zealand second innings, Latham (61, 7x4, 100b) and Cachopa (76, 13x4, 129b) added 128 for the second wicket. Left-arm spinner Rakesh Dhruv sent back the two in successive overs.
The teams will figure in ODIs at the same venue on September 8, 10 and 12. Unmukt Chand will lead the India ‘A’ team which will have 10 new players for the shorter version. Latham will skipper the Kiwis, who will have three replacements.
The scores: New Zealand ‘A’ 437 and 176 for three in 51.2 overs (Carl Cachopa 76, Tom Latham 61) drew with India ‘A’ 430 in 135.3 overs (Manpreet Juneja 193, V.A. Jagadeesh 91, Abhishek Nayar 57, Mark Gillespie four for 80, Doug Bracewell three for 88).
