Padikkal and Sudharsan Steady India A After New Zealand A Take Control
Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan gave India A a much-needed lift on the second day of the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A in Lincoln, combining for an unbroken 96-run partnership after both Indian openers fell early. Padikkal reached stumps unbeaten on 56, while Sudharsan was 39 not out, helping India A recover to 106 for 2 in their second innings.
The stand has kept India A’s hopes alive, but the visitors still face a substantial challenge. After being dismissed for 113 in their first innings, India A conceded a 204-run lead when New Zealand A made 317. India now trail by 98 runs with eight second-innings wickets remaining. The hosts remain firmly in front, although Padikkal and Sudharsan’s resistance has prevented the match from slipping further out of India’s reach.
Early Wickets Put India A Under Pressure
India A’s second innings began with little margin for error, but the opening pair was separated within the first half-hour. Yashasvi Jaiswal started positively, striking a boundary from the first ball he faced. His stay was brief, however: at the start of the fourth over, Simon Keene beat him with a short delivery, ending his innings before he could build on that promising start.
KL Rahul followed soon after in an unusual dismissal. Attempting to stop the ball from rolling back onto his stumps, Rahul moved his bat into its path but clipped the off stump in the process and was given out hit-wicket. Losing both openers so quickly left India A vulnerable to another collapse, particularly after their difficult first innings.
That made the response from Padikkal and Sudharsan especially important. The pair had to rebuild against a New Zealand A attack with a sizeable lead to defend, while also managing the pressure of an innings that could determine whether India A remain in the contest.
Padikkal Makes the Most of His Opportunity
Padikkal reached an unbeaten half-century and appeared increasingly assured as his innings developed. He also benefited from an early reprieve, making the most of the opportunity to settle in and take responsibility for the recovery. Rather than rushing to erase the deficit, he and Sudharsan focused on surviving the difficult period and putting together a partnership.
Sudharsan played a valuable supporting role, reaching 39 not out by the close. Both batters remained at the crease when stumps were called, and their stand of 96 offered India A a measure of stability after the loss of two early wickets. Their progress will be closely watched as they compete for the No. 3 position ahead of next month’s Test series. While one innings cannot settle a selection debate, a composed performance in challenging conditions can strengthen a player’s case.
The immediate task is more pressing than individual selection prospects. India A need to turn this recovery into a substantial partnership on the third day, then continue scoring long enough to reduce the deficit and put pressure back on New Zealand A. A further cluster of wickets would leave the hosts in a strong position to push for victory.
New Zealand A’s Lower Order Builds a Decisive Lead
New Zealand A resumed on 135 for 3 and extended their advantage through contributions from across the batting order. Curtis Heaphy, who had finished the first day on 37, added only seven before missing out on a half-century. Matthew Boyle also fell after the restart, giving India A an opportunity to limit the hosts’ total.
Instead, New Zealand A’s middle and lower order resisted effectively. Mitchell Hay and Dean Foxcroft added 43 runs in just under 11 overs, taking the total beyond 200 and restoring momentum. Foxcroft then completed a half-century, contributing 51, before adding another 33 runs with Kristian Clarke in an eighth-wicket partnership.
Clarke proved particularly influential late in the innings. After the eighth-wicket stand, he helped add 34 runs with Fraser Sheat for the ninth wicket, then combined with Zak Gibson for a brisk, run-a-ball partnership worth 32. Clarke was eventually bowled for 42, but his innings helped New Zealand A reach 317 and secure a commanding 204-run first-innings lead.
For India A, Anshul Kamboj and Auqib Nabi each claimed three wickets. Their efforts helped prevent the hosts from stretching the total even further, but New Zealand A’s lower-order partnerships ensured that the lead remained substantial. The innings also underlined how valuable late runs can be in a multi-day match: the extra contributions from the final wickets have left India A with a demanding second-innings assignment.
What to Watch on the Third Day
The first session of the next day could shape the match. If Padikkal and Sudharsan resume with the same discipline and extend their partnership, India A can narrow the gap and make New Zealand A work harder for a result. Their progress will depend on balancing patience with the need to score; simply surviving is useful, but India must eventually build enough runs to challenge the hosts’ advantage.
New Zealand A, meanwhile, will look to break the stand early and expose the remaining Indian batting order. The hosts have the lead, the momentum from their first-innings total and an opportunity to apply pressure with the ball. Any prediction about the result remains uncertain while India’s two set batters are still together, but the scoreboard clearly favours New Zealand A.
Brief scores: New Zealand A 317 (Rhys Mariu 76, Dean Foxcroft 51; Anshul Kamboj 3/52, Auqib Nabi 3/69); India A 113 and 106/2 (Devdutt Padikkal 56*, Sai Sudharsan 39*), trailing by 98 runs.
