The three-match unofficial Test series between India A and New Zealand A concluded without a winner after the third and final match ended in a draw at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln on Tuesday.
Persistent rain washed out the final two days of the four-day contest, preventing New Zealand A from completing their first innings and leaving all three matches in the series drawn.
India A had posted 464/5 before declaring their first innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal led the batting effort with 102 off 138 deliveries, striking 16 fours and two sixes. He shared a 175-run opening partnership with Sai Sudharsan, who contributed 88.
Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 81, while captain Dhruv Jurel scored 71 and Washington Sundar made an unbeaten 50 to strengthen India’s position.
New Zealand A were 36/2 when play was halted, with Prasidh Krishna claiming both wickets. Zak Gibson was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers in India’s innings, returning figures of 2/73.
The series provided valuable batting practice for several players in India’s plans ahead of the two-Test series against New Zealand, scheduled to begin on November 19.
Devdutt Padikkal emerged as India’s leading run-scorer across the three matches, while Jaiswal also impressed with consecutive centuries in the second and third games. Sudharsan and Jurel made important contributions, while uncapped batter Yash Rathod was another notable performer during the series.
However, the rain-affected final match limited the opportunity for India’s frontline bowlers, including Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, to gain valuable red-ball match practice ahead of the upcoming Test assignments.
