Strengthening his case for a regular spot in the national squad, Devdutt Padikkal delivered a standout performance with the bat against New Zealand A. Rescuing the team from a precarious position, he not only brought up a magnificent century but also surpassed his previous best score in first-class cricket. Meanwhile, Sai Sudharsan played a solid supporting role before narrowly missing out on his hundred.
The match is being played at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, New Zealand. On the third day of the opening unofficial test, India A resumed their second innings from 106 for 2. Starting his day at 56, Devdutt Padikkal adopted an aggressive approach and reached his century in just 128 balls by hitting a six. This marks the 12th century of his first-class career.
Crucial Partnership Rebuilds the Innings
Batting at number four, Sai Sudharsan partnered with Devdutt Padikkal to add 215 runs for the third wicket. The duo steadied the ship when the side was facing early pressure. Earlier in the second innings, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul had departed cheaply, leaving India A struggling at 10 for 2.
During this knock, Devdutt Padikkal also completed 1,000 runs in first-class cricket for India A. This is his third century in 16 matches for the team. Though Sai Sudharsan was dismissed for 92, missing his century by just eight runs, Padikkal converted his start into a massive score to register his career-best first-class total for the side.
Overcoming Previous Struggles
Prior to this tour, Devdutt Padikkal had a quiet outing against Australia A in Puducherry, where he managed only three runs across three List A matches and a solitary fifty in two first-class innings. However, he had a stellar run during the tour of Sri Lanka in August, slamming three centuries. His current knock against New Zealand A has once again underlined his batting prowess.
India A had a disastrous start to the match, getting bowled out for a mere 113 in their first innings. In response, New Zealand A posted 317 runs in their first essay, securing a commanding lead of 204 runs. The second innings also began on a shaky note when pace bowler Simon Keene dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal for five runs. In the very next over, KL Rahul was out hit-wicket off Fruedan Sheet, also scoring five. Reeling at 10 for 2 within five overs, the team staged a strong recovery through the vital partnership.
