Mount Maunganui: Senior pros Murali Vijay (28) and Ajinkya Rahane (12) were dismissed cheaply but young guns Prithvi Shaw (62, 88b, 6×4, 1×6) and Hanuma Vihari (86, 150b, 8×4) warmed up nicely for the Australia Test series with half centuries for India A against New Zealand in the first unofficial Test.
At stumps on the opening day, India A scored 340 for five with Australia bound opener Shaw, middle order batsman Vihari and comeback man Parthiv Patel (79 batting, 111b, 10×4) utilised the opportunity to the fullest.
However opener Vijay and Test vice-captain Rahane found their defences breached by Blair Tickner (2/48) and Doug Bracewell (1/58) respectively.
In-form Vihari, who made his Test debut against England with a half century, was dismissed in the last ball of the day. Also scoring a half century was Mayank Agarwal (65, 108b, 10×4, 2×6).
After the visitors opted to bat first, India A were given a fine start by Shaw and his senior partner Vijay. The Mumbaikar then added 50 runs for the second wicket with Agarwal, before getting out.
Agarwal then added 73 runs for the third wicket with Vihari till the former was dismissed. Skipper Rahane did not last long but the duo of Vihari and Patel put together a stand of 138 runs for the sixth wicket to consolidate India A’s position at the Bay Oval.
Brief scores: India A 340/5 (Hanuma Vihari 86, Parthiv Patel 79 batting, Mayank Agarwal 65, Prithvi Shaw 62; Blair Tickner 2/48) vs New Zealand A. Match to continue.