India A declare at 464/5 as Jurel, Tilak, Washington shine in 3rd Unofficial Test
Synopsis
India A are in total command at Lincoln after declaring at 464/5 on Day 2 — with Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar putting on an unbroken 114-run stand and Prasidh Krishna then removing two New Zealand A openers cheaply. The hosts trail by 428 and are down to nine fit bowlers. A potential innings defeat looms.
Key Takeaways
India A declared at 464/5 on Day 2 of the 3rd unofficial Test at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln on 8 November .
Tilak Varma (81 not out) and Washington Sundar (50 not out) shared an unbeaten 114-run partnership.
Dhruv Jurel scored 71 and Sai Sudharsan made 88 , while Yashasvi Jaiswal had hit 102 on Day 1.
Prasidh Krishna took 2/12 , dismissing Rhys Mariu (duck) and Curtis Heaphy (19) to leave New Zealand A at 36/2 at stumps.
New Zealand A trail by 428 runs and were reduced to nine bowling options due to injuries to Darun Ferns and Jarrod McKay .
India A put themselves firmly in command of the third unofficial Test against New Zealand A at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln on Sunday, 8 November, declaring their first innings at 464/5 on Day 2. Half-centuries from Dhruv Jurel (71), Tilak Varma (81 not out), and Washington Sundar (50 not out) powered the visitors to a commanding total, leaving the hosts reeling at 36/2 at stumps — a deficit of 428 runs.
India A's Dominant Second-Day Batting
Resuming at 227/2 overnight, India A added 237 runs in the final session before the declaration, with roughly an hour to spare in the day's play. Sai Sudharsan, who had anchored much of the first-day innings with patience, was dismissed for 88 — agonisingly 12 runs short of a century — when Zak Gibson produced a full delivery that moved back into the batter and breached his defences.
Jurel provided the early thrust upon resumption, taking a particular liking to the short-pitched bowling and finding the boundary regularly. He brought up his fifty with a clip down the leg side before departing for 71, holing out off a pull shot from Darun Ferns towards deep backward square leg.
Tilak and Washington's Unbeaten 114-Run Stand
Ravindra Jadeja briefly joined the middle order but managed only 25, edging to first slip. That brought together Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar, who adopted a measured approach and stitched together an unbeaten 114-run partnership. Their stand not only stretched India A's lead to beyond 400 but also eased any pressure of a declaration timeline. Notably, Yashasvi Jaiswal's first-day century of 102 had already set the platform for this domination.
New Zealand A's Bowling Attack Under Strain
The hosts were significantly hampered by injury during India A's innings. Darun Ferns experienced back trouble, while Jarrod McKay, dealing with a side strain, was unable to bowl at all. As a result, New Zealand A were forced to call upon nine different bowling options, yet managed just one wicket after Jurel's dismissal — a telling indication of how stretched their resources had become.
Prasidh Krishna Rocks New Zealand A Early
When New Zealand A came out to bat, Prasidh Krishna struck twice in quick succession to put India A in firm control. Rhys Mariu was bowled for a duck, and Curtis Heaphy was trapped leg-before for 19, reducing the hosts to 36/2 at stumps. Dean Foxcroft and Zak Gibson negotiated the remaining 26 deliveries without further damage, but the hosts still face an uphill task of overcoming a 428-run deficit heading into Day 3.
Brief Scores: India A 464/5 declared (Yashasvi Jaiswal 102, Sai Sudharsan 88, Tilak Varma 81 not out, Dhruv Jurel 71, Washington Sundar 50 not out; Zak Gibson 2/73) lead New Zealand A 36/2 (Curtis Heaphy 19, Dean Foxcroft 10 not out; Prasidh Krishna 2/12) by 428 runs.
With three days remaining and a yawning deficit to close, New Zealand A will need a historic fightback to avoid defeat in this third unofficial Test.
Point of View
Jurel, Tilak, and Washington Sundar have all staked their claims emphatically, and the bowling hand-off to Prasidh Krishna was equally sharp. The real subplot is selection pressure: with India's Test calendar crowded, performances like these in A-team cricket are the last audition before the national selectors finalise squads. For New Zealand A, a 428-run deficit with an injury-hit attack signals a very long final three days.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current score in the 3rd unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A?
At the close of Day 2 at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, India A declared at 464/5 and New Zealand A are 36/2, trailing by 428 runs. Prasidh Krishna took both New Zealand A wickets to fall.
Who were the top scorers for India A in their first innings?
Yashasvi Jaiswal top-scored with 102 on Day 1, while Sai Sudharsan added 88, Tilak Varma finished 81 not out, Dhruv Jurel made 71, and Washington Sundar scored 50 not out. Tilak and Washington put on an unbeaten 114-run partnership.
Why did New Zealand A use nine bowlers in India A's innings?
New Zealand A were forced to use nine different bowlers because Darun Ferns suffered back trouble and Jarrod McKay was unable to bowl due to a side strain. Despite the variety, they managed just one wicket after Jurel's dismissal.
What did Prasidh Krishna do when New Zealand A came out to bat?
Prasidh Krishna took 2/12, dismissing Rhys Mariu for a duck and Curtis Heaphy leg-before for 19. His burst reduced New Zealand A to 36/2 at stumps, putting India A in a dominant position heading into Day 3.
What does New Zealand A need to do to save the 3rd unofficial Test?
New Zealand A need to overcome a 428-run deficit with three days of play remaining, having already lost two wickets. With key bowlers injured and India A's attack in form, a draw or win for the hosts is considered a very difficult task.
