- Dhruv Jurel’s 99* takes India A to 291-7 on the first day of the second Test against New Zealand A. Dhruv Jurel’s 99, supported by Devdutt Padikkal’s 80 and a late stand with Akash Deep, took India A to a competitive 291-7 on the first day of the unofficial second Test at Hagley Oval.
- Tim Paine praises Dhruv Jurel after an impressive performance for India A (Photo by Gareth Copley/) At the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, India A closed the opening day of the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A on 291-7, recovering from a precarious position thanks to a knock of 99 not out that Dhruv Jurel put out.
- Jurel, who remained unbeaten at the close, struck 11 fours and three sixes in his innings to anchor the side after wickets fell at regular intervals through the middle session.
Dhruv Jurel’s 99* takes India A to 291-7 on the first day of the second Test against New Zealand A. Dhruv Jurel’s 99, supported by Devdutt Padikkal’s 80 and a late stand with Akash Deep, took India A to a competitive 291-7 on the first day of the unofficial second Test at Hagley Oval.
Tim Paine praises Dhruv Jurel after an impressive performance for India A (Photo by Gareth Copley/) At the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, India A closed the opening day of the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A on 291-7, recovering from a precarious position thanks to a knock of 99 not out that Dhruv Jurel put out. Jurel, who remained unbeaten at the close, struck 11 fours and three sixes in his innings to anchor the side after wickets fell at regular intervals through the middle session. The innings got off to a rocky start when Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck in the first over, with Fraser Sheat, the bowler, taking the blame.
Sai Sudharsan then steadied things alongside Devdutt Padikkal, the pair putting on a 91-run second-wicket partnership before Sudharsan departed for 41 off 63 balls, with Jarrod McKay taking that wicket. Padikkal continued to build and seemed set for a higher score before Sheat bowled him for 80, ending a promising innings. In a somewhat difficult innings, Yash Rathod came and went for 13, dismissed by Mitchell Hay, while Brett Randell also took a wicket in the middle order.
Sheat was the standout bowler for New Zealand A, finishing with figures of 4-50 from 19 overs. Jayden Lennox and Jarrod McKay took a wicket each alongside Randell’s contribution. Jurel found a solid ally in Manav Suthar, who contributed 22 runs as the pair added 62 runs together to take India A past 250.
The final partnership of the day proved equally valuable, with Jurel and Akash Deep putting up an unbroken stand of 69 runs, with Akash unbeaten at stumps on 25 runs, taking the total to 291-7 and giving India A a platform to build on on the second day of play. How did India A’s innings go after the first game? Jaiswal’s scoreless loss in the first over set a difficult tone and the innings required careful rebuilding by Sudharsan and Padikkal.
Their 91-run stand for the second wicket was the first significant partnership of the day and gave India A some stability after the initial shock. Sudharsan’s 41 off 63 balls was a measured contribution before McKay ended his stay. Padikkal’s 80, reached by Sheat while finding his stumps, was the highest individual score of the day and formed the backbone of the first half of the innings.
After his dismissal, the middle order struggled to hold on, with Rathod managing just 13 points before Hay struck. Sheat’s four-wicket haul, which cost 50 runs from 19 overs, was the crucial bowling performance that repeatedly broke partnerships and kept New Zealand A in control throughout the afternoon. The lower middle class then took the momentum back towards India A.
Suthar’s 22 runs and his 62 runs with Jurel once again steadied the innings and the unbroken 69-run partnership between Jurel and Akash Deep at the end ensured the day ended on a positive note for the visitors. What does Jurel’s unbeaten 99 mean for India A’s position? Jurel’s 99 not out, based on 11 fours and three sixes, was the decisive contribution of the day.
As such, he arrived in a period of pressure and remained at the crease until the final session, where he led India A from a vulnerable position to a total of 291-7. The unbroken wicket stand of 69 between Jurel and Akash Deep, unbeaten on 25, ensured crucial runs in the final session and enabled India A to end the day with momentum. Jurel will continue with 99 and not out on day two, just one run away from what would be a personal milestone in the game at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
