Lincoln, 10 November (H.S.): The third and final match of the three-game unofficial Test series between India A and New Zealand A ended in a draw, after persistent rain prevented play on the fourth and final day. With the concluding match also producing no result, the entire series finished level, with all three four-day encounters ending in draws.

At the close of play on the third day, New Zealand A were 36 for two in their second innings, with Dean Foxcroft unbeaten on 10 and Zak Gibson on one. The hosts still needed 428 runs to win. Earlier, New Zealand A had won the toss and elected to field.

India A had strengthened their position by declaring their first innings at 464 for five. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan provided an excellent start, putting together a 175-run opening partnership. Jaiswal scored 102 off 138 deliveries, striking 16 boundaries and two sixes, while Sudharsan contributed 88 off 255 balls, including 11 fours.

Tilak Varma then scored 81 off 164 deliveries, hitting five fours and two sixes. Captain Dhruv Jurel added 71 off 95 balls, with nine fours and two sixes, while Washington Sundar remained unbeaten on 50 off 107 deliveries. Zak Gibson was New Zealand A’s leading wicket-taker, claiming two wickets.

Padikkal Emerges as India A’s Leading Run-Scorer

The performances of India A’s batters ahead of the Test series beginning on November 19 provided encouraging signs. Devdutt Padikkal emerged as the team’s leading run-scorer, accumulating 326 runs in five innings across three matches at an average of 65.20. His tally included one century and one half-century.

Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 279 runs in five innings at an average of 69.75, registering two centuries. After relatively modest scores in the initial innings, he bounced back with consecutive hundreds.

Sai Sudharsan amassed 231 runs at an average of 46.20, including two half-centuries. Captain Dhruv Jurel scored 179 runs in four innings at an average of 44.75, with one century and one half-century to his credit.

Yash Rathod, who has yet to make his international debut, also delivered an encouraging performance for India A. He scored 223 runs in two matches at an impressive average of 111.50, including a century and a half-century.

Among the bowlers, Auqib Nabi impressed with six wickets in one match, while Mohammed Siraj claimed four wickets in another, making valuable contributions to the team's performance.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar