Auqib Nabi strikes as India A collapse for 113 on green wicket in Lincoln

India A were dismissed for 113 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln on Saturday, Day 1 of the first four-day unofficial Test, as New Zealand A exploited a green pitch. New Zealand A reached 135 for three at stumps to take a 22-run first-innings lead after late wickets from Auqib Nabi and Mukesh Choudhary slowed the hosts' progress.

New Zealand A captain Rhys Mariu won the toss and elected to field, a call that produced immediate dividends on the seaming track. Several of India A's established Test players struggled in the conditions: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar and Akash Deep were dismissed without scoring, while captain Dhruv Jurel managed only one run. Simon Keene emerged as the chief threat with figures of five for 24 in 11.3 overs, supported by Zak Gibson, Fraser Sheat and Kristian Clarke.

India A's innings unravelled after an initial period of consolidation. Fraser Sheat removed Rahul for a duck after eight deliveries, and Gibson removed Jaiswal for 17 off 45 balls. Devdutt Padikkal provided a patient 32 off 77 balls with five boundaries but his dismissal to Gibson precipitated the collapse that left the visitors all out in 39.3 overs. Yash Rathod offered the only significant counterattack, finishing unbeaten on 44 off 49 balls with three fours and three sixes, while Anshul Kamboj contributed 10.

New Zealand A were 135 for three in 41 overs at stumps, led by Mariu's 76 and Curtis Heaphy's unbeaten 37. India A waited 38 overs for their first breakthrough in the reply when left-arm pacer Mukesh Choudhary trapped Mariu leg-before. Auqib Nabi then struck twice in quick succession, bowling Jayden Lennox after he shouldered arms and trapping Tim Robinson lbw.

Nabi finished the day with two for 31 from eight overs. Keene's five-wicket haul and Gibson's three wickets had earlier dominated India A's batting, while Sheat and Kristian Clarke each took one. Akash Deep, returning to the India A set-up after an injury lay-off, went wicketless but conceded just 18 runs in 10 overs after an initially wayward spell.

The four-day fixtures form part of India A's preparations ahead of the senior team's two-match Test series against New Zealand beginning on November 19. On Day 2 India A must build on the late wickets to prevent New Zealand A from extending their first-innings advantage.