Dhruv Jurel’s 105 as captain lifts India A to 346 vs New Zealand A

India A captain Dhruv Jurel made 105 in the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, taking India A from 160/6 to 346. Resuming on an overnight 99, he reached his eighth first-class hundred off 158 balls on Sunday, 1 November. Wisden calls it his maiden first-class hundred outside Asia.

New Zealand A replied strongly. Matthew Boyle (107 not out) and Dean Foxcroft (80 not out) put on an unbroken 205 for the fourth wicket, and the hosts reached 218/3 at stumps on day two, still 128 runs behind with seven wickets in hand.

The captain’s innings

Jurel walked in on day one at 131/3. India A then slid to 160/6 after Devdutt Padikkal’s 80. Jurel added 62 for the seventh wicket with Manav Suthar and 75 with Akash Deep.

Brett Randell dismissed him for 105, after he had faced 171 balls and hit 11 fours and three sixes. Akash Deep made 68 off 116 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes, as India A added 55 to their overnight 291/7. Fraser Sheat took 4/63 in 24 overs, the best figures among the New Zealand A bowlers.

New Zealand A fight back

India A made an early breakthrough. Mohammed Siraj and Mukesh Kumar reduced New Zealand A to 13/3 inside the first eight overs. Siraj had captain Rhys Mariu caught behind by Jurel for 4, while Mukesh removed Curtis Heaphy (4) and Tim Robinson (3).

Boyle and Foxcroft then took control. Mukesh Kumar finished with 2/44 from 16 overs and Siraj with 1/49 from 16, while Washington Sundar (0/44) and Akash Deep (0/35) went wicketless.

What’s next

India A’s next game is the third and final four-day match against New Zealand A. The BCCI says Prasidh Krishna will join the squad subject to clearing his Return to Play assessment, and Nitish Kumar Reddy will join after the first ODI. The Test series against New Zealand starts on 19 November.