Hyderabad: Corey Anderson and Anton Devcich smashed blistering tons in the second and final unofficial Test against India A, which helped New Zealand A take control on Day 1 here on Monday. The Kiwis ended the day with 300 for eight wickets.
The visitors were four down at the score of 43 and in 43rd over, but the partnership of 165 runs between Anderson and Devcich got them out of the trouble and made sure that they end up on a positive note after the end of the first day's play. Anderson scored 100 runs off which, 76 were scored in boundaries as he hit 16 fours and couple of sixes during his 126-ball long stay at the crease.
Meanwhile, Devcich played a role of sheath anchor and scored 115 runs off 185 deliveries that he faced. He scored 15 boundaries during his steady innings, which guided the Kiwis to a respectable total.
The Indian bowlers did their job quite well as Dhawal Kulkarni and Jalaj Saxena picked up couple of wickets each. Dhawal ended up with the figures of 2/26 after his 13 overs whereas Jalaj Saxena took 2/69 in 26 overs. Other bowlers in left-arm seamer Shrikant Wagh, UP medium pacer Imtiaz Ahmed and Dhurv also scalped a wicket each.
India A had a terrific start when Kulkarni drew the first blood by removing opener Neil Broom for duck with his beautiful out-swinger CM Gautham did nothing wrong to take that easy catch. The Mumbaikar was on a roll as he scalped the wicket of Carl Cachopa who departed after scoring just three runs and was caught by Imtiaz Ahmed.
Saviour for visitors in last match, Luke Ronchi didn’t contribute with the bat and Kiwis were pinned down at 17 for three. Anderson did try to build a partnership with Tom Latham but before they could do much damage, Wagh dismissed Latham as he struck him in front of the wickets to get a leg before decision in his favour.
After this brilliant start from the Indian bowlers, it was the time for some counter attack from the Kiwis that denied the hosts from picking up any wickets for nearly 40 overs, as Anderson and Devcich stitched the partnership of 165 runs for the fifth wicket.
In the 57th over, Indian bowlers tasted success when they bagged the wicket of Anderson. His dismissal was followed by an untimely run-out of Derek de Boorder (1), but Todd Astle (17) made some valuable contribution as he added 52 runs for the seventh wicket with Devcich before Saxena scalped his wicket. Devcich's hard fought innings came to an end. It was the second wicket for Saxena, when the Kiwis were at the score of 275.
But Doug Bracewell (12 batting) and Ish Sodhi (14 batting) saw off the remaining 11.4 overs without further damage.
Brief Scores: New Zealand A 1st Innings 300/8 in 89 overs (Anton Devcich 115, Corey Anderson 100, Dhawal Kulkarni 2/26, Jalaj Saxena 2/69) vs India A.
