Sundar removes Foxcroft as New Zealand A extend lead to 140 in Lincoln

Washington Sundar dismissed Dean Foxcroft for 51 as New Zealand A extended their lead to 140 during the second session on Day 2 of the first unofficial Test in Lincoln on Saturday. New Zealand A were 253 for 8 in 78.4 overs when Foxcroft fell leg before wicket.

New Zealand A had earlier reached 228 for 7 in 69.2 overs, taking a 117-run advantage over India A, with captain Rhys Mariu top-scoring on 76 off 137 balls and Curtis Heaphy contributing 44 off 134. India A’s Anshul Kamboj returned the best bowling figures for the visitors with three wickets for 32 runs, while Auqib Nabi claimed two, and Akash Deep and Mukesh Choudhary took one apiece.

Foxcroft misjudged the flight and drift from Sundar and was trapped leg before wicket after compiling a 79-ball innings that included seven fours. His dismissal left New Zealand A eight down and curtailed a stand that had helped the hosts extend their lead in the second session.

Auqib Nabi removed nightwatchman Jayden Lennox and Tim Robinson with successive deliveries late in the previous day’s play, leaving him on the brink of a hat-trick. The close of play prevented any immediate follow-up, meaning Nabi would have to wait until the second morning for another opportunity at a hat-trick.

India A were bowled out for 113 in 39.2 overs in their first innings, with Simon Keene taking five wickets for 24 and Zak Gibson claiming three for 29. The visitors’ top order struggled: KL Rahul was dismissed for a duck, Yashasvi Jaiswal made 17, Sai Sudharsan fell for a duck, and Dhruv Jurel was out for one; Devdutt Padikkal offered some resistance with 32 but was out at a point that left India A 56 for 5.

New Zealand’s innings began cautiously as Curtis Heaphy and Rhys Mariu negotiated testing conditions, and Mariu benefited from a reprieve when Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped a catch at third slip off Akash Deep. The opening pair compiled a century partnership before Mariu was leg before wicket to Mukesh Choudhary, and Heaphy, who had been unbeaten on 37 at the close of the opening day, finished with 44.

Play is set to resume on the second morning with New Zealand A 253 for 8 and a lead of 140, and Auqib Nabi required to wait until that restart for another chance at completing a hat-trick.