New Zealand A won the toss and elected to bowl first in the opening match of the three-match unofficial Test series. Fraser Sheat provided an early breakthrough by dismissing KL Rahul for a duck. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal then attempted to stabilise the innings, with Jaiswal scoring 17 runs and Padikkal contributing 32.
However, Jack Gibson broke their partnership by dismissing Jaiswal, triggering further trouble for India A as wickets continued to fall. The New Zealand A bowlers maintained pressure throughout the innings, restricting the visitors’ scoring opportunities on the grass-covered surface.
Simon Keene was the standout performer with the ball, taking five wickets to dismantle the Indian batting order. Jack Gibson supported him with three wickets, while Kristian Clarke and Fraser Sheat claimed one wicket each. All 10 India A wickets fell to fast bowlers.
Amid the collapse, Yash Rathod stood firm and scored aggressively to keep the innings moving. He also played a crucial role in the final-wicket partnership with Mukesh Choudhary, adding 32 runs to push India A past the 100-run mark. Rathod contributed most of the runs in the partnership and remained unbeaten on 44 off 49 balls, hitting three sixes and three fours.
Despite Rathod’s resistance, India A could not reach a more competitive total. Their first innings ended before the completion of the first two sessions of the day, leaving the team all out for 113.
Five India A batters failed to open their accounts: KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Choudhary and Akash Deep. Captain and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel managed only one run, further highlighting the difficulties faced by the Indian batting line-up.
India A fielded Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (captain and wicketkeeper), Yash Rathod, Washington Sundar, Anshul Kamboj, Aqib Nabi, Akash Deep and Mukesh Choudhary.
New Zealand A’s playing XI comprised Reece Mariu (captain), Curtis Heaphy, Tim Robinson, Matthew Boyle, Dean Foxcroft, Mitchell Hay (wicketkeeper), Simon Keene, Kristian Clarke, Fraser Sheat, Jayden Lennox and Jack Gibson.
With India A restricted to 113 in the first innings, New Zealand A’s pace attack made a decisive impact on the opening day of the first unofficial Test, with Keene’s five-wicket haul leading the hosts’ bowling effort.
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