Padikkal and Sudharsan revive India A in Lincoln, reach 488/8 to lead New Zealand A by 284 on Day 3
Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan revived India A’s second innings in the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A in Lincoln on Day 3, with Padikkal making 199 and Sudharsan 91 as India A finished on 488 for 8 to lead by 284.
India A had been under pressure after a first-innings collapse to 113, which allowed New Zealand A to post 317 and a 204-run lead, and the tourists lost KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal inside the first five overs of their second innings. Padikkal had previously entered the Indian Test side when Sudharsan was injured during the Sri Lanka series and responded there with centuries in both Test matches; he had also scored a hundred in the tour game ahead of that series. The recovery in Lincoln has added a fresh dimension to the competition for India’s No.3 berth.
India A resumed Day 3 with Padikkal on 56 not out and Sudharsan on 39, the two left-handers settling despite strong winds across the ground. They capitalised on loose deliveries and rotated strike to steady the innings after the early setbacks and curb the New Zealand A bowling threat.
Padikkal assumed the more aggressive role, reaching his 12th first-class century by hitting a six off Jayden Lennox and maintaining a brisk scoring rate. Their partnership crossed the 200-run mark and reversed the match situation, taking India A into a first-innings lead.
The 215-run stand ended when Sudharsan was dismissed for 91, top-edging a short delivery to the fielder behind square and falling agonisingly short of a century. Following Sudharsan’s exit, Padikkal and Yash Rathod compiled a further 142 runs off 142 balls before Tea, with Rathod contributing 66.
Padikkal was dismissed for 199, adjudged caught behind down the leg side off Zak Gibson; he appeared unhappy and gestured to the umpire that there had been a significant gap between his bat and the ball. His innings required 248 deliveries and included 24 boundaries and three sixes. Washington Sundar remained unbeaten on 51 at stumps as India A finished 488 for 8.
Padikkal’s innings and the rebuilding by Sudharsan have put New Zealand A under pressure heading into the final day, and Padikkal’s recent red-ball returns — including the two Test centuries and the tour game hundred cited here — are likely to strengthen his case for selection at No.3.
