New Zealand A vs India A: 1st unofficial Test, Day 1 Review- Vijay, Rahane fail on an otherwise top day for visitors

The first day of the opening unofficial Test between India ‘A’ and New Zealand ‘A’ in Mount Maunganui turned out to be in favour of the hosts as they finished with 340/5 in 89.4 overs. From the visitors’ top six batsmen, four of them scored half-centuries and ensured that India don’t fall behind the 8-ball. New Zealand seemed a tad rusty and couldn’t quite get their opponents on the mat.

Shaw and Agarwal make hay

After India ‘A’ won the toss and elected to bat first, Prithvi Shaw and Murali Vijay opened the batting with a stand of 61 runs from 19 overs. It eventually was right-arm pacer Blair Tickner, who gave the home team its first breakthrough by dismissing Vijay for 25 runs from 64 balls. At the other end, Shaw looked fluent and played his strokes freely without nurturing any sort of inhibition.

Shaw scored 62 runs with six fours and a six after which left-arm spinner Theo van Woerkom accounted for his wicket. However, Mayank Agarwal carried on with the good work and stitched together a partnership of 73 runs along with Hanuma Vihari. He became Tickner’s second victim in the 51st over. The day turned out to be disappointing for Ajinkya Rahane and he scored only 12 runs.

Vihari and Parthiv

After Rahane’s dismissal, Vihari and Parthiv Patel took charge and both milked the bowling without much trouble. Vihari has had a superlative time in the domestic circuit after which he broke into the Indian Test team as well. He scored 86 runs from 150 deliveries with eight boundaries. Patel also looked in excellent touch and never allowed the New Zealand bowlers to settle into a rhythm.

The left-handed batsman scored 79 runs from 11 balls with the help of 10 boundaries. Just when the partnership looked to guide India through to the end of the first day, right-handed fast bowler Kyle Jamieson nipped Viihari out against the run of play. Despite the wicket at the fag end of the day, India would be fairly happy with how they put their best foot forward.

Brief Scores

India A: 340/5 in 89.4 overs; (Hanuma Vihari 86, Parthiv Patel 79; Blair Tickner 2/48, Theo van Woerkom 1/54)

Close of Play: Day 1

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