NEW ZEALAND A v INDIA A
One-Day Series
January 2020
A strong India A squad was back again on NZ shores | PHOTOSPORT
India A claimed the first one-dayer, but hosts New Zealand A struck back to take the List A series 2-1.
Game One
22 January 2020 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln
India A won by 5 wickets
After two games against a composite New Zealand XI, an all-round team effort by India A got their formal one-day series against New Zealand A off to a winning start in Lincoln.
Electing to bowl, India A bowled out NZ A for 230 with Mohammed Siraj picking up three wickets, and Khaleel Ahmed and Axar Patel a brace each.
Rachin Ravindra (49) and new NZ A captain Tom Bruce (47) just missed out on half centuries and it proved just not enough on the day for the hosts, with a target of 231 proving so against the aggressive Indian batsmen.
India A chased it down in just 29.3 overs, Prithvi Shaw (48) and Mayank Agarwal (29) giving the tourists a quick head start with a 79-run stand for the opening wicket.
Sanju Samson( 39 off just 21 balls) and Shubman Gill (30 off 35 balls) added 66 together before falling in a quick succession, but Suryakumar Yadav scored a quickfire 35 to help get India A home in plenty of time.
Game Two
24 January 2020 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch
NZ A won by 29 runs
A belligerent George Worker century underpinned a New Zealand fightback, his 135 flying off just 144 balls (12x4, 6x6) in NZ A's ultimately solid total of 295/7. It was a far cry from 109 for five in the 25th over, but crucially Worker found later support to put India A under pressure at the death.
It was Worker's second List A ton for the side and 13th of his career, both of the NZ A hundreds scored against India A over the last four years, while he also scored 99 against the team last season.
Batting deep into the 47th over after having been sent in by India A, Worker dominated a fifty-stand with his Stags and NZ A captain Tom Bruce (17) before a pivotal century stand with Canterbury captain Cole McConchie who contributed a run-a-ball 56.
After Worker's departure, Jimmy Neesham, with a quick unbeaten 33, showed his finishing ability in an ultimately tough day for the Indian attack, Ishan Porel claiming 3-64.
NZ A then restricted India A to 266 for nine, the visitors guilty of failing to capitalise on their starts despite a brisk half century from Krunal Pandya. Form opener Prithvi Shaw fell to Kyle Jamieson in the first over.
Leading the team in the absence of Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal got things back on track with 37 off 42 balls, while Ishan Kishan scored 44 off 55, but no one went on to match Worker's big score.
Allrounder Vijay Shankar contributed 41 off 53 and Pandya, coming in to bat at seven, top-scored with a 48-ball 51.
Game Three
26 January 2020 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch
NZ A won by 5 runs
After a smashing hundred from Mark Chapman, a late double strike from towering pace bowler Kyle Jamieson (4-49) ensured New Zealand A clinched a thriller to win the three-match one-day series.
Jamieson removed India A tailenders Sandeep Warrier and Ishan Porel off successive deliveries to dismiss India A for 265, with two balls to spare, to squeak a five-run victory for the rubbber.
Earlier, Aces teammate Chapman top-scored with a racy unbeaten 110* in NZ A's total of 270/7 in their 50 overs.
India A wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan had looked to have the chase under control as he fought his way to an unbeaten 71*, but was ultimately left stranded with wickets crashing at the other end.
It hadn't started badly for the tourists. After a 79-run opening stand between Prithvi Shaw and Ruturaj Gaikwad was finally broken by Ajaz Patel, however, six wickets would fall to the New Zealand spinners, left-armer Patel picking up 3-44; Rachin Ravindra 2-43 off and Todd Astle 1-37.
