Tezzbuzz Desk- The second four-day red ball match between India A and New Zealand A is being played in Christchurch. On the first day of the match, India A, batting after the toss, scored 291 runs at the loss of 7 wickets in 88 overs. The Indian team had a good start, but the team was in trouble due to the continuous fall of wickets in the middle order. At such a time, captain Dhruv Jurel took the responsibility and made useful partnerships with the lower order batsmen and took the team to a respectable score. Dhruv Jurel scored unbeaten 99 runs facing 155 balls on the first day. His innings included 11 fours and 3 sixes. He is just one run away from his century. He will complete his century as soon as the first run comes off his bat on the second day. This will be his eighth century in first-class cricket. This inning of Jurel supported the team at a time when it seemed difficult for India to even reach 200 runs.
India A's score at one time was 137 runs for five wickets. Three middle-order wickets had fallen in a span of just six runs, putting the team under pressure. After this, Jurel focused on managing the innings as well as building partnerships. He, along with the lower order batsmen, maintained the run pace and put the team in a strong position. There was a 23-run partnership between Jurel and Washington Sundar for the sixth wicket, but even after Sundar was out, the captain did not give up. Jurel added 62 runs with Manav Suthar for the seventh wicket. This partnership played an important role in taking India A beyond 200 runs. After this, there was an unbeaten partnership of 69 runs for the eighth wicket between Jurel and Akashdeep by the end of the first day's play. Akashdeep scored 25 runs in 55 balls and he also remained at the crease.
Before this, Devdutt Padikkal gave a good start to the team by batting at number three. He scored 80 runs on 140 balls. His innings saved the Indian team from initial shocks and made an important contribution in taking the score beyond 100 runs. However, after the dismissal of Padikkal, the middle order faltered and the team lost three wickets in a short span. At the end of the first day's play, India A's score stood at 291/7. Captain Dhruv Jurel and Akashdeep returned unbeaten. Now on the second day, the Indian team will look to increase the score further. Jurel has a chance to complete his century, while New Zealand A team will try to wrap up India's innings by taking quick wickets. The performance on the first day has made the contest exciting.