India's Teen batting sensation Tilak Varma, who has always oozed runs in domestic cricket, clobbered his maiden first-class hundred as the first unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A ended in a draw on Sunday (September 4).
Chasing India's gigantic total of 571/6, New Zealand scored 133/4 on Day 4 of the match. The third centurion of the India A's inning Tilak whacked an impressive 121 off 183 as skipper Priyank Panchal declared the team's innings with adequate runs on the board.
Meanwhile, the pick of the bowlers for India A was Kuldeep Yadav who bowled an impressive spell of 2/38 in 22 overs. While the match meandered towards a draw, the left-arm wrist spinner did his cause no harm, bowling with a lot more control and precision compared to his first innings effort when he gave away 119 runs in 34 overs.
The delivery to get rid of right-handed opener Chad Bowes (5 off 20 balls) was a classic left-arm wrist spinner's googly.
Bowes pressed forward to play a defensive stroke but saw the delivery turn away after pitching and the edge was taken at slips by Ruturaj Gaikwad.
He also trapped Mark Chapman plumb in-front but what was heartening to see in the second innings was the way he varied the pace of his deliveries and gave the ball air.
The best part about the match was Kuldeep adding miles to his legs with a total of 56 overs in the game. He will at least play one more 'Test' among the remaining two (as Rahul Chahar is set to get a game) and then play domestic cricket for UP before going for the Bangladesh tour.
Tilak shines on India A debut
Tilak had played only four first-class games before this 'unofficial Test' and his highest score was 90.
But on the day, he completed a well-deserved ton, first of the many that one would expect from the blade of the young turk from Hyderabad.
The left-handed batter, who made a name for himself in this year's IPL with Mumbai Indians, hit nine fours and six sixes.
While one needs to factor in that Easwaran (132) batted against the new ball and set the foundation while Patidar (176) literally hammered the New Zealand A bowlers into submission.
However, one can't discount Tilak's effort just because the pressure was a bit less with India A already in a comfortable position.
