India’s top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal missed out on scoring his first-class career’s second double century due to an umpiring howler on Day 3 of the first unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A at Bert Sutcliffe, Lincoln. Padikkal teamed up with Sai Sudharsan and helped India A get rid of the trail, courtesy of the collapse which led to 113 all out in the first innings. Padikkal missed a much-deserved maiden first-class double ton on overseas soil as the umpire gave him out based on a sound that came off his thigh pad before the ball went to the wicketkeeper.
Padikkal Sudharsan get rid of lead
Starting Day 2 at an overnight score of 106/2, Padikkal and Sudharsan began with positive intent. Fraser Sheat was hit for three boundaries in his third over of the day. In his next over, Sudharsan reached his fifty from 128 balls. Padikkal continued right where he left off and often found boundaries. In the 50th over of the innings, he reached his century from 128 deliveries, his 12th ton of first-class career. India A got rid of New Zealand A's lead in the 57th over.
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Sudharsan out in nervous 90s
The partnership was broken by Kristian Clarke in the 62nd over. Sudharsan was undone by the extra bounce. All he could manage was a top edge. He got caught by Dean Foxcroft. Sudharsan missed a chance to score his 11th first-class ton. He fell for 91 off 184 balls. They shared a 215-run stand for the third wicket. India A were 226/3 at the end of the first session.
No show from Jurel again
India A captain Dhruv Jurel failed once again. Jurel played a loose shot and got a top edge. The backwards square leg fielder took an excellent catch as Jurel departed after scoring just two runs from 12 balls. Along with openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jurel is the third batter from the Test squad who could not make an impact in the first unofficial Test.
Padikkal, Rathod add quick runs before howler
Yash Rathod joined Padikkal in the middle. After missing his fifty in the first innings as he ran out of partners, Rathod did not look troubled by the Kiwi bowlers. In the 73rd over, Padikkal took on left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox and hit him for a six and two fours. In Lennox's next over, he reached his 150 from 204 deliveries. Padikkal and Rathod scored at a brisk pace. The set batter was not afraid to take the aerial route. In the 84th over, Rathod smashed Clarke for three consecutive fours to reach his half-century from 54 deliveries.
The fifth-wicket partnership was broken in the 89th over. Zak Gibson bowled one down the leg side. Padikkal tried to play it fine but could not get the bat on that delivery. But the umpire raised his finger, which shocked Padikkal. He let the umpire know by gesturing that the ball was far away from his bat. There was no DRS available, and Padikkal had to walk back to the dressing room for 199 from 248 balls. He hit 24 fours and three sixes during his marathon knock. At the end of the second session, India A were 377/5, leading by 173 runs. It is not clear whether Padikkal will face any sanction for showing his dissent to the umpire’s decision.
Sundar scores fifty, lower order contributes too
In the first over after the tea break, India A lost another wicket. Rathod edged one off Foxcroft's bowling to wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay. The extra bounce got the better of him. He contributed with 66 runs from 72 balls, including eight fours.
Washington Sundar took his time in the middle, but Anshul Kamboj looked for boundaries. The left-arm spinner knocked over Kamboj in the 102nd over. He contributed 23 runs from 36 balls. Sundar and Auqib Nabi looked to stitch a partnership and frustrate Kiwi bowlers. Nabi looked to attack as well. In the 118th over, Sundar completed his 13th first-class half-century from 73 balls.
Eventually, a bouncer caught him off-guard and hit his helmet. In the same over, he got caught at gully trying to play a flick shot. He departed after scoring 38 runs from 63 balls. India A were 488/8 in 119 overs at the end of day's play. Sundar walked back to the dressing room unbeaten on 51 from 75 balls.
Would India A go for the win on Day 4?
On the final day of the first unofficial Test, India A could look to bat for half an hour or so. The lead is already 284 runs. On a flattened-out pitch, Sundar should look to score quickly. Akash Deep is also capable of hitting big. The pacers would’ve had enough rest, and India A will have a chance to bowl out New Zealand A and win the series opener.
How India A bowlers perform in the first innings?
Nabi was impressive as he struck twice in an over to remove Lennox and Tim Robinson. Later, with the second new ball, he got rid of the tailender. Nabi is not part of the Test squad and this will be his chance to showcase his talent. Kamboj took three wickets, whereas Deep bagged a couple. Left-arm pacer Mukesh Choudhary's only wicket was the opener and captain Rhys Mariu.
Sundar bowled only eight overs in the first innings. He is expected to get longer spells on a Day 4 pitch. He generated drift to get the wicket of Foxcroft, which will come in handy.
However, rain could play spoilsport tomorrow. If it rains early on Day 4, it may play on Jurel’s mind, and a declaration can come earlier. If the conditions remain overcast, the pacers will have their tails up. The new ball will play a huge role in those conditions, and the visitors would look for early wickets to push the hosts on the back foot in the run chase.