Jaiswal and Rathod Propel India A to Strong Finish Against New Zealand A
Jaiswal and Rathod Lead India A Comeback
Yashasvi Jaiswal made a remarkable return to form with an impressive unbeaten century as India A drew against New Zealand A in the second unofficial Test held at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on Tuesday. The left-handed opener scored an unbeaten 155 runs off 162 balls, hitting 15 fours and five sixes in India's second innings, which allowed the team to recover from an initial deficit and conclude the match positively. Jaiswal received excellent support from Yash Rathod, who also achieved a fantastic century, finishing with 100 runs off 122 balls. Together, they formed an unbroken partnership of 247 runs for the third wicket, leading India A to a total of 282/2 in 52.4 overs before both teams settled for a draw.
Match Summary and Individual Highlights
India A had initially fallen behind by 78 runs after being bowled out for 346, while New Zealand A scored 424 in their first innings. Ultimately, India A concluded the match with a lead of 204 runs.
Jaiswal's performance in the second innings was particularly noteworthy following a challenging series of scores. He had previously scored only 17 and five in the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A and was dismissed for a duck in the first innings of this match. However, he made a strong comeback, reaching his century off 119 balls and finishing with 155 not out. His innings laid the groundwork for India A to overcome New Zealand A's first-innings lead. Rathod's composed century complemented Jaiswal's aggressive style, as he reached three figures off 122 balls. Their partnership ensured India A finished the match without further losses after the early dismissals of Sai Sudharsan (11) and Devdutt Padikkal (0) on Day 4.
First Innings Overview
In their first innings, India A scored 346 runs, with wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel leading the way with a century, scoring 105 runs off 171 balls. Devdutt Padikkal contributed 80 runs off 140 balls, while Akash Deep added a valuable 68 runs off 116 balls. Sai Sudharsan also chipped in with 41 runs. For New Zealand A, Fraser Sheat was the standout bowler, taking four wickets for 63 runs, while Brett Randell secured two wickets for 66 runs.
New Zealand A's First Innings Performance
New Zealand A responded with a total of 424 runs in their first innings, establishing a 78-run lead. Matthew Boyle was the cornerstone of their batting, scoring an impressive 110 runs off 152 balls, while Dean Foxcroft narrowly missed a century with 93 runs off 226 balls. Other notable contributions came from Kristian Clarke (41), Fraser Sheat (40), and Jarrod McKay (33), helping the hosts surpass the 400-run mark. For India A, pacer Mukesh Kumar was the standout bowler, achieving figures of 5/87 in 29 overs, while Mohammed Siraj took four wickets for 118 runs, and Washington Sundar claimed the remaining wicket.