Jurel, Tilak, Washington stroke fifties to extend India A's advantage

Dhruv Jurel, Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar stroked half-centuries as India A continued to hold the advantage on Day 2 of the third unofficial Test against New Zealand A, at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, in Lincoln, on Sunday (November 8).

Resuming the second day’s play on 227 for 2, the visitors went on the offensive early with Jurel taking on the short-pitched deliveries, plenty of which went for boundaries. Sai Sudharsan, on the other hand, displayed more composure, but was eventually dismissed off a full length delivery by Zak Gibson which nipped back in and cleaned him up 12 short of a century.

Jurel soon brought up his half century by clipping a delivery down the legside for a boundary. He continued his attack by cutting a couple of deliveries for boundaries, but his innings eventually ended with a short delivery that he pulled to the deep backward square leg fielder. Darun Ferns, who dismissed him, had troubles with his back while Jarrod McKay, who was suffering a side strain, didn’t bowl at all.

Tilak, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington looked in no mood to push the scoring rate, and kept the host bowlers on the field for nearly 54 overs after Jurel’s dismissal. With two key bowling options unavailable, New Zealand A employed nine bowlers. Together, the managed to pick only one wicket, with Jadeja edging one to first slip on 25. Washington and Tilak stitched a 114-run stand before India A declared their innings on 464 for 5, with just around an hour of play left in the day.

Prasidh Krishna then dismissed both the openers cheaply, with Rhys Mariu getting cleaned up for a duck, and Curtis Heaphy getting trapped legbefore on 19. Dean Foxcroft and Zak Gibson saw through the last 26 balls of the day safely before the hosts went to stumps on 36 for 2.