Lincoln, Oct 26: Devdutt Padikkal put a stop to the debate surrounding India’s potential No.3 for the upcoming Test series with a superb 199 as India A made a remarkable recovery to post 488 for 8 in their second innings against New Zealand A on the third day of the first unofficial Test here.
Going into the last day, India lead by 288 runs, a brilliant turnaround after being all out for 113 on the opening day to concede a 200 plus first innings lead.
Padikkal missed out on a well-deserved double hundred when he was adjudged caught behind down the leg-side off a delivery from medium pacer Zak Gibson.
Padikkal seemed aghast when the umpire raised his finger and ended up gesturing animatedly to insist that he didn’t nick it. He stood there dumbfounded before dragging himself towards the dug-out.
Since there was no DRS or snickometer to help his case, Padikkal was left with no choice but to walk back.
Before that, Padikkal struck 23 boundaries and three sixes in 248 balls.
Padikkal had all but sealed the number three slot after back-to-back Test tons in Sri Lanka, but the team management, before the two-match series against New Zealand, also wanted to check out a fit-again Sai Sudharsan, who too scored an impressive 91, while adding 210 for the third wicket.
Sudharsan also hit 12 boundaries in his 184-ball knock but between the two left-handers, Padikkal looked more in control with his shot selection and the manner in which he paced his innings.
It did help that like all New Zealand tracks, this one too flattened out by the third day. The bounce was comparatively lower and there wasn’t much movement off the surface.
Padikkal played the short ball well and used his feet against left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox, whom he hit for two of his three sixes. The first one was down the ground and it brought up sinewy southpaw’s century.
Once Sudharsan missed out on a hundred, Padikkal found an ally in Yash Rathod (66 off 72 balls) adding another 142 runs.
Padikkal’s second six off Lennox was hit over long-on while he imperiously pulled seamer Fraser Sheat over square leg for another six.
By the time Padikkal and Rathod got out, India’s lead was 165 but Washington Sundar (51 batting) got company from Anshul Kamboj (23) in a 41-run stand before adding another 69 runs with Auqib Nabi (38).
Brief Scores: India A 113 and 488/8 (Devdutt Padikkal 199, Sai Sudharsan 91, Yash Rathod 66, Washington Sundar 51).
New Zealand A: 317. (PTI)