India A Crumble for 113: Rahul and Sudharsan Fail as Simon Keene Rips Through Lineup
India A suffered a batting collapse on Day 1 against New Zealand A, skittled for 113 as Simon Keene claimed a five-wicket haul.
It was a nightmare start for India A in the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A. On a challenging green-top wicket at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, the Indian batting order collapsed spectacularly, being bundled out for a meager 113 runs in under 40 overs on the opening day of the match.
Top Order Collapse Sets the Tone
The struggle began early for the visitors. Opening the innings, KL Rahul failed to make any impact, falling for a duck in the third over after facing eight deliveries. While Yashasvi Jaiswal attempted to steady the ship, partnering with Devdutt Padikkal for a 30-run stand, the recovery was short-lived. Jaiswal was eventually caught by Matthew Boyle off the bowling of Zak Gibson for 17 runs.
The misery continued as Sai Sudharsan walked to the crease. He struggled to find any rhythm, facing 13 balls before his stumps were dismantled by Simon Keene, marking the beginning of a devastating spell by the Kiwi bowler.
The Middle Order Meltdown
Dhruv Jurel, leading the India A side for his first tour of the region, fared no better. He was claimed by Keene for just one run, with Rhys Mariu taking a sharp catch to complete the dismissal.
Devdutt Padikkal showed some resistance, striking five boundaries in a gritty 32-run knock. However, his efforts were in vain as Zak Gibson returned to dismiss him. The collapse accelerated when Washington Sundar was sent back for a duck in the very next over, courtesy of Gibson.
A Lone Warrior in the Tail
Amidst the wreckage, young southpaw Yash Rathod emerged as the sole fighting spirit of the innings. While Anshul Kamboj contributed 10 runs and tried to build a partnership, it was Rathod who took the game deep. Despite the fall of wickets around him, Rathod shifted gears and aggressively targeted the bowlers.
Rathod remained unbeaten on 44, a knock that included three fours and three sixes, ensuring that India A at least crossed the 100-run mark. The innings finally came to a close as Simon Keene cleaned up the tail, dismissing Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, and Mukesh Choudhary.
New Zealand's Bowling Masterclass
The New Zealand A attack operated with clinical precision, utilizing the green pitch to their full advantage. Simon Keene was the star of the show, finishing with a brilliant five-wicket haul. He was well-supported by Zak Gibson, who claimed three wickets, while Kristian Clarke and Fraser Sheat chipped in with one wicket each.
Upcoming Schedule
This match is the first of a three-game unofficial Test series, with each match scheduled for four days. The action will move to Hagley Oval for the second Test starting October 31, before returning to Lincoln for the final encounter on November 7.