NZ A batsmen in a real spin in India
New Zealand A’s batsmen had no answer to spin as they suffered an embarrassing innings and 31-run defeat to India A in their tour opener.
No New Zealand A batsman reached 50 in either inning of the four-day match at Vijayawada, which ended shortly after lunch on day three.
It was a miserable start to the tour with the bat for New Zealand A with the side skittled for 147 and 142 in both innings.
They battled against India A spinners Shahbaz Nadeem and Karn Sharma, who both nabbed four wickets in each innings to finish with 16 between them for the match.
Central Districts opener George Worker was the only batsman to get past 30 in New Zealand A’s second dig, which lasted just 63.1 overs.
Test opener Jeet Raval was the next highest scorer with 21 in a bleak batting card with skipper Henry Nicholls failing for the second time in the match with one, to go along with five in the first innings.
Worker and Raval’s 41-run partnership was the best stand of New Zealand A’s second innings.
The only bright spot to come from the match for New Zealand A was legspinner Ish Sodhi’s 5-94,
which helped restrict India A to 320 in their lone turn at bat.
The sides meet in another fourday match, starting on Saturday (NZ time) before attention turns to five one-day matches.