Bad Light Denies India A as Heaphy's Gritty 90* Seals Dramatic Draw with New Zealand A

India A were left to rue what might have been as bad light denied them a stunning turnaround victory on the final day of the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A at Lincoln on Tuesday. The visitors, who needed just one more wicket to complete a remarkable comeback, had to settle for a draw after the umpires took the players off with New Zealand A on 187/9 in their second innings, still 126 runs short of a 313-run target.

A stubborn 10th-wicket partnership between Curtis Heaphy and Jayden Lennox proved the difference. Heaphy stood firm with an unbeaten 90 off 187 balls, while Lennox remained on six as the pair survived 57 deliveries to frustrate the Indian attack. With 18 overs still to be bowled in the day, fading light came to the hosts' aid and the match ended in a draw.

India A's fightback built on Padikkal's 199

India A had made a nightmare start, skittled for just 113 in their first innings. Yash Rathod top-scored with an unbeaten 44, while Devdutt Padikkal managed 32. Simon Keene led the New Zealand A attack with a five-wicket haul (5-24), with Zak Gibson claiming three (3-29).

New Zealand A responded with 317 to take a commanding first-innings lead of 204. Captain Rhys Mariu struck 76 and Dean Foxcroft contributed 51, while Kristian Clarke added 42 to build a strong advantage. Auqib Nabi (3-69) and Anshul Kamboj (3-52) took three wickets each for India A, with Akash Deep claiming two.

Facing a huge deficit, India A produced a stirring response in their second innings, piling up 516 to set a target of 313. Padikkal was the standout performer, falling agonisingly one run short of a double century with a 199 off 248 balls, laced with 24 fours and three sixes. He shared a mammoth 215-run partnership with Sai Sudharsan, who made 91, to haul India A back into the contest. Yash Rathod added a crucial 66, Washington Sundar scored 52, and Auqib Nabi chipped in with 38 as Akash Deep remained unbeaten on 25.

New Zealand A collapse before late resistance

Chasing 313, New Zealand A lost three early wickets as Auqib Nabi struck twice in the third over, dismissing Rhys Mariu and Tim Robinson with precise inswingers, before returning to bowl Matthew Boyle an over later to leave the hosts reeling at 13/3.

Heaphy and Foxcroft steadied the ship with a confident 78-run stand before a 45-minute rain delay interrupted proceedings. Mukesh Choudhary eventually broke the partnership, removing Foxcroft for 42 to India A's short-ball ploy, while Anshul Kamboj dismissed wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay.

India A then found an unlikely hero with the ball as Padikkal claimed his maiden first-class wicket by dismissing Fraser Sheat, before adding a second victim in Gibson a few overs later. Akash Deep bowled Simon Keene for five to leave the visitors on the cusp of victory. But Heaphy refused to yield, and with Lennox holding firm at the other end, the light closed in to deny India A the final breakthrough.

Auqib Nabi finished with three wickets in the second innings, while Padikkal claimed two. Akash Deep, Mukesh Choudhary, Anshul Kamboj and Washington Sundar took one wicket each.

Brief Scores: India A 113 all-out (Yash Rathod 44*; Simon Keene 5-24, Zak Gibson 3-29) & 516 all-out (Devdutt Padikkal 199, Sai Sudharsan 91; Zak Gibson 3-80) drew with New Zealand A 317 (Rhys Mariu 76, Dean Foxcroft 51; Anshul Kamboj 3-52, Auqib Nabi 3-69) & 187/9 (Curtis Heaphy 90*; Auqib Nabi 3-28).

The two teams will now turn their attention to the second unofficial Test, scheduled to begin on Saturday.