New Zealand A Seize Control After India A Collapse for 113 in Lincoln
India A’s New Zealand tour began with a demanding lesson in seam bowling, as the visitors were dismissed for just 113 on the opening day of the first unofficial Test in Lincoln. A green pitch, helpful overhead conditions and a disciplined New Zealand A attack combined to make batting difficult, leaving India’s top order with little room to settle.
New Zealand A captain Rhys Mariu won the toss and chose to bowl, a decision that quickly paid off. The hosts’ fast bowlers found movement off the surface and through the air, repeatedly testing the Indian batters’ judgement outside off stump. India A lasted only 39.2 overs, though a late burst from Yash Rathod prevented the innings from becoming even more damaging.
By stumps, New Zealand A had reached 135 for 3, building a first-innings lead of 22. Mariu led the response with a composed 76, while Auqib Nabi gave India A a late lift by striking twice in quick succession. His second wicket came from the final over of the day, leaving him one dismissal away from a hat-trick when play resumes.
India A’s Top Order Struggles Against the New Ball
KL Rahul’s innings ended almost as soon as it began. The experienced batter chased a delivery he could have left alone and was dismissed for a duck, setting an unsettling tone for India A’s innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal showed greater restraint, facing 45 deliveries and resisting the urge to attack, but he eventually edged a ball to first slip for 17.
Simon Keene then intensified the pressure. He bowled Sai Sudharsan for a duck before removing captain Dhruv Jurel for one. Jurel’s dismissal came shortly after a collision with Fraser Sheat while completing a run, adding to a difficult passage for the visitors.
Devdutt Padikkal was the standout batter during the early collapse. Promoted to No. 3 ahead of Sudharsan, he appeared to offer a glimpse of a possible role in India’s senior Test plans for the upcoming series. Padikkal played with patience and reached 32 by lunch, helping India A reach the interval at 56 for 4.
His stay ended on the first ball he faced after the break, however, when he edged behind. India A were soon five down, and the innings began to unravel more rapidly. Washington Sundar fell for a duck, while the lower order struggled to handle the movement and accuracy of the New Zealand A bowlers.
Rathod’s Counterattack Gives India A a Late Lift
With India A in danger of being dismissed for a total barely into three figures, Rathod produced the innings’ most assertive batting. He attacked the bowlers when opportunities appeared, striking three sixes and finishing unbeaten on 44. His response was particularly notable against Sheat, whose excellent opening spell had helped put India A under severe pressure.
Anshul Kamboj added a couple of boundaries before picking out deep fine leg. Auqib Nabi and Akash Deep then fell within three deliveries, leaving India A at 81 for 9 and facing the prospect of a very low total. Rathod’s counterattack changed the final scoreline, even though Keene eventually claimed his fifth wicket by dismissing Mukesh Choudhary.
Keene finished with 5 for 24, while Zak Gibson supported him with 3 for 29. Their figures reflected a coordinated bowling effort rather than a single spell of dominance: the New Zealand A attack kept the ball in threatening areas, made the batters play and capitalised when edges and mistimed shots followed.
Mariu Anchors New Zealand A’s Reply
Batting did not suddenly become straightforward when New Zealand A began their innings. India A’s seamers continued to probe, and Akash Deep created an early chance in the sixth over. Jaiswal, stationed at third slip, could not hold on to an edge from Mariu, who was on five at the time. The opportunity went down, and the New Zealand A captain made India A pay.
Mariu and opener Curtis Heaphy responded with patience, prioritising survival before looking to score. They negotiated the challenging conditions through to tea and gradually built confidence as the opening partnership passed 100. Mariu’s innings combined sound defence with occasional attacking strokes, including a couple of streaky boundaries as the Indian bowlers continued to find the edge without consistently finding a fielder.
Heaphy remained unbeaten on 37 at stumps, providing a steady partner as Mariu moved to a half-century and then beyond. Mukesh Choudhary beat the bat several times, but the openers’ concentration helped New Zealand A establish a strong position after India A’s modest first innings.
Nabi Strikes Late to Keep India A in the Contest
India A finally broke through when Choudhary trapped Mariu in front for 76, ending a partnership that had put the hosts firmly in control. Nabi then made the most of the opening. In the following over, he bowled nightwatcher Jayden Lennox and removed Tim Robinson leg before wicket with the next delivery.
The consecutive wickets brought Nabi within reach of a hat-trick, but only one more over was possible before the close. He will therefore return on Day 2 with the chance to complete the feat, while India A will hope to build on the late breakthroughs and prevent New Zealand A from extending its advantage.
Match Position, Key Performers and Day 2 Prediction
At stumps: India A were all out for 113, with Rathod top-scoring on 44 not out and Padikkal making 32. Keene took 5 for 24 and Gibson claimed 3 for 29. New Zealand A were 135 for 3, led by Mariu’s 76 and Heaphy’s unbeaten 37. Nabi had taken 2 for 31, while Choudhary had one wicket. New Zealand A held a lead of 22 runs.
The first-day picture favours the hosts, who have already moved ahead despite losing three wickets late in the evening. The key question for Day 2 is whether India A can use the new ball to create another cluster of dismissals before New Zealand A’s middle order settles. Nabi’s hat-trick opportunity adds an immediate storyline, but the broader contest will depend on how effectively India A’s seamers exploit the same conditions that troubled their batters.
Any cricket prediction at this stage should remain cautious: the pitch has offered enough movement to keep a collapse possible, but New Zealand A’s lead and two established batters at the crease give them a clear advantage. If Heaphy can continue supporting the innings and the hosts push their lead beyond 100, India A will face a steep challenge. For the visitors, early wickets on the second morning are essential to turn a difficult opening day into a competitive match.
