The spin duo of leggie Karn Sharma and left-armer Shabaz Nadeem turned out to be too hot to handle once again as the two picked four wickets apiece to bowl India-A to an innings and 31-run win over New Zealand-A in the first of the two, four-day ‘Test’ matches at Mulapadu Cricket Complex here on Monday.
After a 30-minute delayed start because of sharp drizzle in the morning, the Kiwis, resuming at the overnight score of 64 for two, were never really in the game - losing wickets at regular intervals.
This despite there being no devil in the pitch. It was all in the minds and obviously Kiwis lost the psychological battle as the batsmen were found way short of the technical competence required to tackle the spinners who simply stuck to the basics – bowl a good line and length, make the batsmen play at every ball and most bowl importantly to the field.
If one thought there would be the much needed improvement in the second innings, it was not to be as both Karn and Nadeem enjoyed bowling at the New Zealanders who were just not equal to the task.
Once Karn got the first breakthrough in the sixth over of the day when he had the well-set opener, it was a real struggle for the those who followed him to the crease. When Will Young was also dismissed – top-edging a sweep shot off Karn to be caught at silly-point by Hanuma Vihari, the Kiwis were reduced to 81 for four.
At lunch, the Kiwis were 118 for six and the only issue then was whether the innings defeat could be avoided or not. But, both Karn and Nadeem had other intentions and mopped up the tail in 11 overs after the break to bring curtains on what was a thoroughly disappointing batting display.
The scores :
New Zealand-A— 1st innings : 147.
India-A — 1st innings : 320.
New Zealand-A — 2nd innings : George Worker b Karn 35, Jeet Raval b Nadeem 21, Henry Nicholls lbw b Karn 1, Will Young c Vihari b Karn 14, Tom Blundell lbw b Shardul 12, Tim Seifert lbw b Karn 14, Todd Astle b Shardul 0, Scott Kuggeleijn c Rishabh b Nadeem 15, Ish Sodhi c Karun b Nadeem 13, Matt Henry b Nadeem 0, Lockie Ferguson (not out) 10; Extras: (lb-3, nb-4) 7; Total: (in 63.1 overs): 142.
Fall of wickets : 1-41, 2-42, 3-74, 4-81, 5-89, 6-99, 7-118, 8-118, 9-120.
India-A bowling : Shardul 9-1-17-2, Md. Siraj 8-6-3-0, Nadeem 20.1-6-51-4, Karn 23-4-62-4, Karun 3-1-6-0.
(India-A won by innings and 31 runs) .
