India A set New Zealand A a target of 416 runs, Rajat Patidar scored a century; Fifty by three players

Rajat Patidar’s unbeaten century helped India A reduce New Zealand A’s target of 416 to 20 for one in the second innings of the third day of the four-day third unofficial cricket Test on Saturday. New Zealand A, chasing the target, lost the wicket of opener Rachin Ravindra (12), who was lbw by Saurabh Kumar.

At the end of the day’s play, opener Joe Carter was playing after scoring six runs, while Joe Walker, who was playing his side at the other end, has not opened the account yet. New Zealand A need to score 396 runs to win, with nine wickets remaining.

India A earlier declared the second innings at 359 for seven, aided by Patidar’s unbeaten 109. Patidar hit 13 fours and two sixes in his 135-ball knock. Apart from this, captain and opener Priyank Panchal (62), Rituraj Gaikwad (94) and Sarfaraz Khan (63) also scored half-centuries.

India started the day with 40 for one wicket. Panchal came out to play 17 while Gaikwad went ahead with 18 runs. Both batted well in the morning session, taking the team’s score to 130 runs.
Walker (2 for 64) ended the second wicket partnership of 122 runs by taking a catch of Panchal off his own delivery. Panchal hit six fours in his 114-ball innings.

Gaikwad and Patidar, who scored a century in the first innings, then put up a 102-run partnership for the third wicket to put India A in a strong position. Gaikwad, however, missed his second century in the match when he was caught by Walker off Mark Chapman. He hit 11 fours in 164 balls. Patidar then found a good partner in Sarfaraz Khan (63).

Both added 108 runs for the fourth wicket. Sarfaraz, however, became the victim of Ravindra (3 for 65) after completing his half-century. Ravindra then sent Upendra Yadav (01) and Shardul Thakur (00) to the pavilion as well. Patidar completed his century, after which captain Panchal declared the innings as soon as Rahul Chahar (10) was dismissed.