Lincoln (New Zealand): India `A` consolidated their position in the second unofficial Test, amassing over 550 runs and then reducing New Zealand `A` to 198 for five on the second day of the match here on Friday.
After Mandeep Singh and Ashok Menaria`s big centuries propelled India `A` to a mammoth 554 for eight declared in 118 overs, R Vinay Kumar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar took two wickets apiece to leave the hosts trailing by another 356 runs at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval.
Resuming on the team score of 433 for four, Mandeep missed out on what would have been a well-deserved double ton by just seven runs while Menaria, though he could add only nine to his overnight score, fell for a blazing 190-ball 173.
Barring Hamish Rutherford, who was unfortunately run out for 99, none of the hosts batsmen could challenge the Indian bowlers.
With the bowlers complementing the batsmen`s dominating display, India `A` can easily afford to force a result in their favour in the next two days. They were deprived of a positive outcome in the first match courtesy bad weather, which meant early stumps on almost all days.
Mandeep and Menaria came out all guns blazing, adding 318 runs for the fifth wicket in 62.2 overs. A highly impressive run-rate of 5.10 clearly indicates their dominance over the Kiwi bowlers.
While Mandeep hit 24 fours and a six during his 281-ball knock that lasted for 423 minutes, Menaria, the more aggressive of the two, found the fence 21 times while clearing it twice, during his 270-minute stay at the crease.
New Zealand bowlers` agony did not end with the duo`s dismissals as Vinay Kumar blazed his way to a 41-ball 50 with the help of five fours and three sixes.
The hosts, who lost George Worker without a run on the board, relied solely on Rutherford, who struck 15 fours and a six during 121-ball innings.
When bad light brought an early end to the day`s proceedings, Dean Brownlie was batting on 19.
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.