Siraj and Mukesh key as New Zealand A reach 338/7 on Day 3 of second unofficial Test
India A bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Mukesh Kumar struck at crucial moments on Day 3 of the second unofficial Test as New Zealand A were 338/7 in 101.1 overs at the drinks break in the second session.
India A had posted 346 in their first innings, with captain Dhruv Jurel making 105 off 171 balls (11 fours, three sixes) and Akash Deep contributing 68 off 116; New Zealand A began their reply disastrously at 13 for three before Matthew Boyle and Dean Foxcroft rebuilt the innings to 218 for three at stumps on day two via a 205-run fourth-wicket partnership.
Siraj provided the breakthrough that ended Boyle’s long stay on Day 3 when Boyle edged a length delivery to Devdutt Padikkal, who dived to his left and held the catch; Boyle departed for 110 off 152, bringing the fourth-wicket stand to an end.
Siraj then removed Dean Foxcroft for 93 via an lbw decision after a ball that angled in struck his pads, and just before lunch Siraj bowled Brett Randell for five to claim his fourth wicket of the innings.
After the interval Mukesh Kumar struck to dismiss Mitchell Hay for 31, Hay edging a length delivery that Dhruv Jurel collected behind the stumps; it was reported as Mukesh's third wicket, taking both Indian pacers to three wickets each. Mukesh later dismissed Kristian Clarke for 41 when Clarke poked at a back-of-length delivery outside off and edged to Smaran Ravichandran at first slip, Smaran holding a comfortable catch as Mukesh picked up his fourth wicket of the innings.
Earlier in the session New Zealand A suffered a let-off when Smaran Ravichandran dropped a regulation catch at first slip off Akash Deep, Fraser Sheat surviving after poking at a delivery outside off. At the drinks break Clarke was 41 off 66 balls and Fraser Sheat unbeaten on 20 off 35, the pair having added 47 for the eighth wicket and bringing New Zealand A within touching distance of India A’s 346.
Match figures noted in the earlier report recorded Mukesh with two for 44 from 16 overs and Siraj with 1/49 from 16 overs; Washington Sundar (14-1-44-0) and Akash Deep (11-2-35-0) were shown wicketless, and India A were described as the happier side going into lunch on Day 3.
