Jaiswal and Rathod bat India A to a draw vs New Zealand A

Yashasvi Jaiswal made an unbeaten 155 off 162 balls on the final day in Christchurch, and India A drew the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A. The opener hit 15 fours and five sixes, and shared an unbroken 247-run third-wicket stand with Vidarbha left-hander Yash Rathod, who finished on 100 off 122 balls.

The match ended soon after Rathod reached his hundred, when the two captains agreed to shake hands. India A finished on 282/2 in their second innings, after making 346 in the first; New Zealand A had made 424.

Jaiswal’s return to form

Jaiswal had been out for 0 in the first innings, so the century was a sharp turnaround. PTI reported that it reassured the team management after a recent dip in form, ahead of the Test series.

He began the final day on 20 not out, alongside Sai Sudharsan on 11, with India A at 32/0 and trailing by 46. Sudharsan (11) and Devdutt Padikkal (0) were the two wickets to fall before the unbroken stand with Rathod, who hit nine fours in his hundred.

How the match got here

New Zealand A had been bowled out for 424 on day three at Hagley Oval, taking a 78-run first-innings lead. Matthew Boyle made 110 off 152 balls and Dean Foxcroft added 93.

Mukesh Kumar took 5/87 and Mohammed Siraj 4/118 for India A, and Washington Sundar took the remaining wicket. In India A’s first innings, Dhruv Jurel made 105, Devdutt Padikkal 80 and Akash Deep 68.

What’s next

The first two matches of the India A tour of New Zealand have both been drawn. The third Test against New Zealand A begins on Sunday, 8 November, at 3:00 AM IST, and it is the last match of the series.

Deccan Herald reports that Shubman Gill will play only the first three ODIs and then join the third India A game to prepare for the two Tests starting on 19 November.