Man on scooter halts play during India A v New Zealand A at Hagley Oval

A man riding a scooter briefly stopped play late on Day 1 of India A's second unofficial Test against New Zealand A at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday, October 31. The interruption occurred as New Zealand A pacer Brett Randell was preparing to bowl the 83rd over.

India A batter Akash Deep flagged the intrusion, prompting Randell to pull out of his run-up after spotting the man crossing the field in front of the sight screen. The elderly spectator appeared to be looking for a place to watch the remaining overs and crossed the ground on his scooter while players and commentators reacted with amusement, joking about his choice of viewing spot. A social-media post carried the line "They see me rollin... via @blackcaps https://t.co/89nFXV6PHc— Cricket District (@cricketdistrict) October 31, 2026." Hagley Oval’s open green spaces beyond the boundary were noted in the coverage as the area where spectators often settle.

Away from the interruption, India A finished the opening day on 291 for seven at stumps, propelled by an unbeaten 99 from captain Dhruv Jurel. That total came after an initially solid start in which India A looked well placed early in the innings.

Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan put together a 91-run opening partnership to give India A momentum; Sudharsan made 41 before being dismissed by Jarrod McKay. Padikkal went on to reach a half-century prior to his dismissal, which preceded a middle-order collapse.

India A then lost four wickets for seven runs to fall to 137 for five, with Yash Rathod, Padikkal and Ravichandran Smaran falling in quick succession. Washington Sundar also departed cheaply, leaving the captain with the task of rebuilding the innings.

Jurel received support from Manav Suthar as the pair added 62 for the seventh wicket; Suthar contributed 22 before being dismissed. In the final session Jurel shifted gears against McKay, including a sequence of four, six and four.

Akash Deep joined Jurel late in the day and the pair put on an unbeaten 69 for the eighth wicket, leaving Akash Deep on 25 and Jurel stranded one run short of a century on 99 off 155 balls.

After the batting collapse threatened to undo their promising start, Jurel's innings gave India A a strong platform heading into the second day. The side were 291 for seven at stumps, with Jurel unbeaten on 99 and Akash Deep unbeaten on 25.