Vasudevan Jagadeesh (40) and Manprit Juneja (43) stitched an unbeaten 78-run stand to help India A reach 94 for two at stumps on the day two of the second and final unofficial 'Test' against New Zealand A at Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium here today.
India A still have an uphill task at hands as the hosts are trailing by 343 runs with eight wickets remaining in their first innings.
Earlier today, New Zealand after resuming their first innings at 300 for eight, added another 137 runs before getting dismissed for 437 in 121.1 overs.
Overnight batsmen Doug Bracewell (96) and Ish Sodhi (57) put on 162 runs for the eight wicket to take New Zealand A to a commanding position in the final four-day match.
The Indian bowlers failed to make inroads even as Bracewell and Sodhi went about their business with ease.
After 31.3 overs, Abhishek Nayar finally brought the breakthrough when he cleaned up Bracewell with the batsmen just four runs short of a century. Bracewell had 11 fours and a six in his 132-ball innings.
Pacer Dhawal Kulkarni then picked up Sodhi in his first delivery of the next over to bring New Zealand A's innings to an end. Sodhi played a very patient innings as in his 142-ball 57 included just three boundaries.
With New Zealanders piling up a massive score, a lot was expected from Unmukt Chand, who had captained India Under-19 to victory in the 2012 World Cup. But the opener made just four runs before he was sent packing by Mark Gillespie in the fifth over of the India A's innings.
Centurion of the last match, young Vijay Zol too could not continue his good form and was dismissed by Bracewell in the 13th over with India A reeling at 16 for two.
Jagadeesh and Juneja then steadied the ship with an unbeaten 78-run partnership. The duo showed a lot of maturity as they handled the opposition bowlers deftly to keep India A afloat.
Brief Score:
New Zealand A 1st innings 437 (D Bracewell 96, I Sodhi 57; D Kulkarni 3/53)
India A 94/2 (Vasudevan Jagadeesh 40 not out, Manprit Juneja 43 not out; Mark Gillespie 1/11).