Thakur and spinners trip up New Zealand A with pink ball

Colin Munro and Tim Seifert's middle-order resistance propelled New Zealand A to 211, despite the clusters of wickets that fell in their innings on the first day of the second unofficial Test in Vijayawada. The match is being played with a pink ball and is a day game. Shardul Thakur bundled out the top order, while spinners Karn Sharma and Shahbaz Nadeem, who bowled India A to victory in the first unofficial Test, ensured New Zealand A went from 127 for 4 to 211.

Munro made 65 off 82 balls, while Seifert's 44 not out hauled New Zealand past 200 after they had slid to 161 for 8. Before their efforts, opener Jeet Raval had given his side a push with 48, in a bid to overcome the poor start. Opening batsman George Worker and captain Henry Nicholls were dismissed by Thakur within three balls in the seventh over and by the 16th over, New Zealand A were reeling at 34 for 3.

India A, who began playing close to stumps, lost opener R Samarth for a duck to pace bowler Seth Rance off the fourth ball of their innings. Shreyas Iyer, the centurion in the first game, and Priyank Panchal, were unbeaten at close of play and will resume from scores of 18 and 14 respectively on the second day.