India A’s revival had been built on a magnificent 199 from Devdutt Padikkal after the visitors were dismissed for just 113 in their first innings, conceding a 204-run lead. Fifties from Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod and Washington Sundar further strengthened the recovery, helping India A post 516 in their second innings and set New Zealand A a target of 313.
India A resumed the fourth day at 488 for 8, with Akash Deep providing the morning’s highlight by smashing Zak Gibson for a hat-trick of sixes. The visitors lost their remaining two wickets on either side of the three successive maximums, bringing their second innings to a close.
India A did not have to wait long for breakthroughs after New Zealand A began their chase. Auqib Nabi struck twice in the third over, dismissing Rhys Mariu and Tim Robinson with precise inswingers. Nabi returned an over later to bowl Matthew Boyle, leaving the hosts reeling at 13 for 3.
Curtis Heaphy and Dean Foxcroft then rose to the challenge, putting together a confident and positive 78-run partnership to steady the innings. The pair took New Zealand A through to the second session, which began with a 45-minute rain delay after three deliveries.
Mukesh Choudhary eventually broke the partnership, dismissing Foxcroft with India A’s short-ball strategy. Mitchell Hay started positively, striking Anshul Kamboj for two boundaries, but fell to the same bowler a few overs later.
Heaphy continued to bat with conviction at the other end and brought up his fifty shortly afterwards. However, he received little consistent support from the remaining batters as New Zealand A struggled to keep the chase alive.
With just four wickets remaining heading into the final session, India A found an unlikely wicket-taker in Padikkal. The batter claimed his maiden first-class wicket by dismissing Fraser Sheat with his off-breaks. Padikkal then struck again a few overs later, removing Gibson to the delight of his teammates.
Akash Deep followed up by dismissing Simon Keene, bringing India A to the brink of victory. However, Heaphy and Lennox dug in for a defiant last-wicket stand as New Zealand A clung to the hope of salvaging a draw.
The partnership survived 57 deliveries, frustrating India A’s attempts to secure the final wicket. With 18 overs still to be bowled in the day, fading light eventually forced the umpires to take the players off the field, leaving India A unable to complete the turnaround.
Brief Scores: India A 113 all-out (Yash Rathod 44*; Simon Keene 5-24, Zak Gibson 3-29) and 516 all-out (Devdutt Padikkal 199, Sai Sudharsan 91; Zak Gibson 3-80) drew with New Zealand A 317 (Rhys Mariu 76, Dean Foxcroft 51; Anshul Kamboj 3-52, Auqib Nabi 3-69) and 187/9 (Curtis Heaphy 90*; Auqib Nabi 3-28).
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