Yashasvi Jaiswal hits 102 as India A reach 227/2 against NZ A

Yashasvi Jaiswal made 102 off 138 balls, with 16 fours and two sixes, as India A finished day one of the third unofficial Test against New Zealand A on 227/2 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln on Saturday, 7 November. It was the 23-year-old’s second hundred in back-to-back matches on the tour.

India A reached that score in 69.3 overs. Sai Sudharsan was unbeaten on 77 off 205 balls and captain Dhruv Jurel was not out on 12 off 24 balls at the close.

The innings

Jaiswal and Sudharsan put on 175 for the opening wicket before Jaiswal was caught by Cameron Paul off Danru Ferns in the 47th over. Devdutt Padikkal then fell for 15 off 53 balls, caught behind by Max Chu off Jarrod McKay, with India A’s second wicket falling at 209.

India A lost the toss and were asked to bat first. More than 20 overs were lost to rain on the opening day, according to the Tribune.

Why the hundred matters

ThePrint reports that Jaiswal’s form had become a matter of concern after the first red-ball game of the tour. The hundred comes ahead of the two-Test series against New Zealand, which begins on 19 November.

The same report says Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Prasidh Krishna are playing this final India A game as part of their preparation for the Test series.

State of the series and what’s next

The first two unofficial Tests of the India A tour of New Zealand, which began on 24 October and 31 October, were both drawn, so this is the last match of the tour.

The first Test of the India-New Zealand series is in Wellington from 19 to 23 November, and the second is in Christchurch from 27 November to 1 December.