Rain Washes Out India A vs New Zealand A Third Unofficial Test, Hampers Bumrah’s Preparations

Unfavourable weather conditions brought the third unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A to a premature close at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln on Tuesday.

After rain eliminated the entire third day’s action, further showers prevented play on the final morning.

Ground staff briefly removed the covers, but worsening conditions forced officials to call off the match at 1 PM local time.

All three encounters in the unofficial Test series consequently finished without a winner.

India A enjoyed a commanding position before rain interrupted proceedings, declaring their first innings at 464/5.

Yashasvi Jaiswal anchored the innings with 102 runs, while Sai Sudharsan contributed 88.

Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 81, followed by Dhruv Jurel’s 71 and Washington Sundar’s unbeaten 50.

New Zealand A reached 36/2 in their first innings before the second day’s play ended, with Prasidh Krishna taking both wickets.

Bumrah and Prasidh Receive Limited Bowling Opportunities

The abandoned contest disrupted preparations for India’s senior Test team, particularly for returning pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna.

The duo bowled just 11 overs combined, while Ravindra Jadeja did not get an opportunity to bowl.

Bumrah, who last played a Test in November last year, was expected to gain valuable red-ball practice before the two-match series beginning November 19.

Jaiswal emerged as India’s leading performer, accumulating 279 runs across five innings at an average of 69.75.

Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal also delivered consistent performances, with Padikkal scoring 199 in the opening match.

Jurel further strengthened his selection prospects through successive contributions, including a century earlier in the series, amid uncertainty surrounding Rishabh Pant’s availability.

For New Zealand A, Dean Foxcroft topped the batting charts with 196 runs, while Zak Gibson claimed eight wickets to finish as the series’ leading bowler.

Brief Scores: India A 464/5 declared (Yashasvi Jaiswal 102, Sai Sudharsan 88, Tilak Varma 81 not out, Dhruv Jurel 71, Washington Sundar 50 not out; Zak Gibson 2/73); New Zealand A 36/2 (Prasidh Krishna 2/12).

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