New Zealand A’s second One Day match against India A has finished in a thrilling draw at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.
Chasing 250 for victory, India were 240 for nine with two overs remaining when bad light meant that play had to be stopped. With scores level using the Duckworth Lewis method, both teams had to settle for the tie.
The draw means that India still lead the One-Day series one - nil with one match remaining.
India’s pursuit started well, with openers Unmukt Chand and Abhinav Mukund putting on 52 for the opening wicket, before Chand was bowled on 23 by Andy McKay.
Mukund though remained, and formed a 99 run stand with wicketkeeper Naman Ojha. It took their team to the dominant position of 151 for one, with 18 overs in hand.
However, a run-out by Neil Broom to see Mukund depart for 66 gave New Zealand a chance to get back into the match.
Although in control of the required run-rate, India began to lose wickets frequently. At 203 for seven the game was evenly poised. New Zealand was only three wickets away from victory, but first match hero Ambati Rayudu (46*) remained at the crease.
The number six batsman once again proved resilient and found a capable partner in Vinay Kumar. The pair put on 34 for the eighth wicket and looked to have won it for India.
With India just 13 runs away from victory, New Zealand’s Andy McKay made sure it would be a tense finish when he picked up two wickets in consecutive balls in the 47th over.
With just one wicket left, Rayudu began to control the strike and required ten runs to win when bad light was called and the teams were forced from the pitch.
McKay was prolific with the ball for the home side and captured figures of five for 50 from ten overs. Wagner was the most economical of the bowlers with his ten overs going for just 32.
Earlier, the New Zealand side had opted to bat having won the toss and recovered from the loss of two early wickets with a 149 run third wicket partnership.
George Worker and Neil Broom were under pressure early against the Indian opening bowlers, but battled through the initial struggle to lead their side through to 169 for two. Worker was the first to go when he was run-out in the 37th over for 61.
Broom was stumped in the next over for 82 and New Zealand were 176 for four.
Derek de Boorder (25) and Andrew Ellis (20) contributed for the home side, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
A quick-fire 18 off 11 balls from Neil Wagner lifted the New Zealand total to 249 for nine at the end of 50 overs.
Jaydev Unadkat was the leading wicket taker for India with figures of four for 47 from ten overs.
The third and final One-Day match will be played on Sunday.
