The second Four-Day match between New Zealand A and India A has finished in a draw, after rain saw play stopped early at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.
The outcome of the match would likely have been the same had weather not interfered, with New Zealand requiring 377 runs for victory and India needing to take ten wickets in two sessions. The result sees the series finish nil-all.
Having resumed at 119 for two, the visitors extended their lead primarily through their captain, Abhinav Mukund. The left-handed opener put on a fine display as he brought up his century off 169 balls.
Three minutes before the scheduled lunch break, showers began to fall with India sitting comfortably at 246 for four. During lunch India announced their declaration with an overall lead of 376. Mukund remained unbeaten on 132.
George Worker had the most success of the New Zealand bowlers, picking up three wickets in his 26 overs for 99 runs.
The home side came back out after lunch with a required run-rate of 6.44 to win, but just three balls into the second session the rain once again interrupted play. Not long after, the rest of the day was abandoned.
India A will travel home tomorrow, having finished the One-Day series one-all and the Four-Day series nil-all.
Batsmen dominate day three
India A will go into the final day of the second Four-Day match against New Zealand A with a 249 run lead at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.
Having resumed at 198 for five, New Zealand worked their way to 424 for seven before they declared after 100 overs. In reply India finished the day at 119 for two.
Captain Abhinav Mukund (56*) and Anustup Majumdar (8*) currently occupy the crease for India, while Unmukt Chand (44) and Naman Ohja (8) are the two wickets to have fallen in the third innings.
Earlier in the day Dean Brownlie and Luke Woodcock had put on a valuable partnership worth 107 for the sixth wicket. Both players brought up half-centuries as they took New Zealand past the 300 mark.
Woodock went not long after though when he was caught on 58 off the bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar 72nd over.
The introduction of Sam Wells didn’t slow the home side down though, as the Otago based all-rounder went on the attack.
Wells brought up his half century off 56 balls in an innings which included three sixes. However, the day will be remembered for a hard fought century from Brownlie, who played patiently to bring up triple figures off 193 balls.
Brownlie eventually fell for 106 in the 97th over, but had successfully taken New Zealand past 400.
Wells continued to find the boundary, but was stopped on 69 as his side declared at tea.
B Kumar finished the best of the Indian bowlers with figures of three for 94 from 26 overs, while Suryakumar Yadav had a big impact in his four overs with the wicket of Brownlie.
Play will begin tomorrow at 10:30am.
