Christchurch witnessed a Test-match scrap on Monday, and at the heart of it were two Indian fast bowlers who simply refused to let New Zealand A run away with the game. Mukesh Kumar and Mohammed Siraj shared nine wickets between them on Day 3 of the second unofficial Test at Hagley Oval, yet the hosts still managed to bank a 78-run first-innings lead, setting up a fascinating final day.
New Zealand A were bowled out for 424 in reply to India A’s 346. By stumps, India A had reached 32 without loss in their second innings, with Yashasvi Jaiswal on 20 and B Sai Sudharsan on 11. The visitors still trail by 46 runs, but with all ten wickets in hand, the fourth day is very much alive.
Siraj strikes first, then strikes again
The morning belonged to Siraj. With the very first delivery of the day, he removed overnight centurion Matthew Boyle, who had to walk back for 110. It was the breakthrough India A needed after Boyle and Dean Foxcroft had put together a partnership worth more than 200 runs and dragged the hosts back into the contest.
Siraj was not done. After the second new ball was taken, he trapped Foxcroft leg before for 93, just seven runs short of a century. Between those two wickets, the momentum shifted sharply. New Zealand A, who had looked comfortable, suddenly found themselves having to rebuild again.
Siraj finished with 4 for 118 from 35 overs, a long shift as he builds towards the Test series against New Zealand later this month.
Mukesh completes his five-for
If Siraj provided the early blows, Mukesh provided the sustained pressure. The Bengal pacer kept hitting the right lengths, moved the ball just enough, and made life uncomfortable for every new batter who walked in. He had wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay caught behind for 31, and from there he kept chipping away until his five-wicket haul was complete.
Mukesh ended with 5 for 87 from 29 overs, the pick of the India A attack. Washington Sundar picked up the remaining wicket, finishing with 1 for 81, as India A finally wrapped up the innings.
What will frustrate the visitors is how the innings ended. At one stage New Zealand A were 338 for 8, and a lead of 30 or 40 looked about right. Instead, the last two wickets added 86 runs. The final pair, Jayden Lennox and Jarrod McKay, put on 55 for the last wicket before Sundar bowled McKay for 33. Those runs turned a handy lead into a commanding one.
Why the tail wagged, and why it matters
Lower-order runs in a four-day game are never just bonus runs. They change the mood, eat up time, and force the side batting second to start from behind. Four of the hosts’ last five batters passed 30, which says plenty about how the pitch flattened out and how India A’s bowlers tired after long spells. Nine wickets shared by two pacers in a day is still no small feat, but the final-wicket stand showed what happens when the pressure eases at the other end.
Jaiswal and Sudharsan hold firm at stumps
The last 11 overs belonged to India A’s openers. Jaiswal and Sudharsan negotiated the fading light without alarm, reaching 32 for no loss. After a long day in the field, an early wicket there would have made the final day a survival exercise. Instead, India A start Day 4 with a platform. The equation is simple, if not easy: wipe out the 46-run deficit without losing wickets in a cluster, then build a lead big enough to pressure New Zealand A in the fourth innings.
What to watch on the final day
- The first hour: If Jaiswal and Sudharsan get through it, India A can start thinking about a lead rather than just survival.
- The middle order: This is a chance for the batters pushing for Test selection to play a long, match-shaping innings.
- The declaration question: If India A build a lead, how bold will they be with a fourth-innings target and the time left?
- Siraj’s next step: After a 35-over effort, his recovery and rhythm will interest the senior team management as much as anyone.
Unofficial Tests rarely make headlines like internationals, but days like this are exactly why they exist. Mukesh and Siraj passed their test with the ball. On the final day, it is the batters’ turn.
FAQs
What were Mukesh Kumar’s figures on Day 3?
Mukesh Kumar took 5 wickets for 87 runs in 29 overs for India A against New Zealand A.
How many wickets did Mohammed Siraj take?
Siraj claimed 4 wickets for 118 runs from 35 overs, including the key wickets of Matthew Boyle and Dean Foxcroft.
What is the match situation after Day 3?
New Zealand A made 424 in reply to India A’s 346, a lead of 78 runs. India A are 32 for no loss in their second innings and trail by 46 runs.
Who top-scored for New Zealand A?
Matthew Boyle scored 110, while Dean Foxcroft made 93. The pair shared a partnership of more than 200 runs.
Where is the match being played?
The second unofficial Test is being played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand.
India A will resume their second innings on the final day with all ten wickets in hand, and the game is finely poised.
