India A vs New Zealand A, 2nd Unofficial Test, India A tour of New Zealand, 2026

Day 4: Start delayed due to wet outfield - India A trail by 46 runs - TEST - Hagley Oval, Christchurch - 2026-10-30T22:00:00.000Z

INDA 1: 346/10 (102.4 overs)
INDA 2: 32/0 (11 overs)
NZA 1: 424/10 (132.5 overs)

Commentary

11:40 Local Time, 22:40 GMT, 04:10 IST: The news we are getting is that play is scheduled to begin at 5.10am IST/12.40pm local. The groundsmen continue their mop-up operations and are putting in the hard yards to dry up the outfield.
11:02 Local Time, 22:02 GMT, 03:32 IST: The rain has stopped and the covers are coming off. It was just a passing shower. The conditions are overcast but let's hope the rain doesn't intervene again.
10:55 Local Time, 21:55 GMT, 03:25 IST: Not what we were expecting but theconditions are quite gloomy and it's drizzling in Christchurch. The on-air commentators mention that it's drizzling for some time now. We will have a delayed start. A large white cover has been placed to protect the pitch and the square. Let's hope the weather clears up soon.
10:35 Local Time, 21:35 GMT, 03:05 IST: Day 4 -- The well-set duo of Boyle (centurion) and Foxcroft were dismissed in the first session yesterday courtesy Siraj. India A took another couple of wickets soon after to reduce the hosts to 291/7 but their lower order dug in. The surface continued to be good for batting and the NZ A tailenders showed that they are no mugs with the bat. The last-wicket duo of Lennox and McKay stitched 55 runs together to extend their side's lead to 78. What followed was a resolute batting display from the India A openers, Jaiswal and Sudhashan, as they survived the tricky phase before stumps. With time running out in this game, a draw is the most likely result. If the hosts are to make the visitors sweat, their bowlers need to come to the party early this morning. It's a true batting surface where the batters get value for their shots. Can the hosts trigger a collapse to make things interesting? Or will the visitors dig in and capitalise once the ball gets older? An absorbing passage of play awaits us...
The India A openers looked largely unflustered, despite the new ball moving around a bit. Both left-handers stepped out of their crease to counter the swing. The pitch still looks good for batting, offering very little assistance to the bowlers. At this stage, a draw appears to be the most likely result. Tune in tomorrow to find out how the final day's play unfolds. Until then, goodbye!
18:33 Local Time, 05:33 GMT, 11:03 IST | Stumps, Day 3: India A survive the 11-over phase without losing a wicket. Their openers have brought the deficit down to 46 runs heading into the final day. Matthew Boyle and Dean Foxcroft, who batted two full sessions yesterday, were removed in the morning session by Siraj, courtesy disciplined bowling. India A picked up two more wickets before lunch, reducing New Zealand A to 291/7, with the hosts still trailing by 55 runs. However, the lower order refused to go down without a fight. Kristian Clarke and Fraser Sheat made 40+ to take their team into the lead. Both were dismissed by Mukesh, who claimed his 12th fifer in first-class cricket. What followed was a stubborn last-wicket stand that would have certainly tested the patience of the India A players. Jarrod McKay and Jayden Lennox extended the middle session by half an hour and batted for more than an hour in the final session, adding 55 runs in 24.5 overs.
10.6: Randell to Yashasvi Jaiswal, no run, confident appeal for caught behind, the umpire turns it down. A cracking delivery from Randell. Out-seaming short of a good length ball and Yashasvi Jaiswal gets squared up as he shapes to defend after walking forward. Mighty close to the outside edge. The New Zealand A players went up instantly but there was no noise. Jaiswal survives....
Final ball of the day coming up
10.5: Randell to Yashasvi Jaiswal, no run, length ball angling in, Jaiswal gets forward to blunt it to square leg
10.4: Randell to Yashasvi Jaiswal, no run, pitched up delivery, Jaiswal walks forward, drives off the front foot and finds mid-off
10.3: Randell to Yashasvi Jaiswal, FOUR, second boundary of the over! Full delivery on leg, Jaiswal walks forward and across, uses the bowler's pace and angle to flick it away. Hits it well wide of leg slip and the ball quickly reaches the fine leg fence
10.2: Randell to Yashasvi Jaiswal, no run, excellent comeback from Randell! Lands it on a length, the ball angles in and then straightens off the deck. Jaiswal walks out his crease and has a feel for it. Mighty close to the outside edge
10.1: Randell to Yashasvi Jaiswal, FOUR, beautiful stroke from the left-hander. Slightly overpitched by Randell outside off and Yashasvi Jaiswal leans across with a bent back leg to drive it sweetly through the covers
Final over the day coming up...
9.6: Kristian Clarke to Sai Sudharsan, no run, on a length and well outside off, left alone
9.5: Kristian Clarke to Sai Sudharsan, no run, shortened length, Sai Sudharsan hops and defends it into the leg-side
9.4: Kristian Clarke to Sai Sudharsan, no run, good length ball holding its line outside off, Sai Sudharsan plays inside the line of it
9.3: Kristian Clarke to Sai Sudharsan, no run, oh, that was close! Kristian Clarke goes slightly fuller and straighter, Sai Sudharsan glances and inside-edges to the right of leg slip. Tim Robinson dives and takes it on the bounce
9.2: Kristian Clarke to Sai Sudharsan, no run, on a length and just outside off, Sai Sudharsan fences it to backward point
9.1: Kristian Clarke to Sai Sudharsan, no run, short of a good length around off, poked towards point