India A 137/2 after Kiwis’ early declaration

India A were comfortably-placed at 137 for two in their second innings after New Zealand A declared their first essay despite being 105 runs behind the visitors on the third and penultimate day of the first unofficial cricket Test on Friday. The hosts managed to score 234/8 riding on opener Tom Latham's dogged knock of 132.

For India, Shami Ahmed [3/56] and Rahul [2/49] and R Vinay Kumar [2/65] did the wicket-taking job while keeping it tight in terms of the runs conceded. India's reply was a steady one after the early loss of under-19 skipper Unmukt Chand [8].

The other opener Abhinav Mukund struck a 60-ball 41 before becoming Sam Wells' only victim of the day. Anustup Majumdar [54*] and Mandeep Singh put on 64 unbeaten runs for the third wicket.