Stumps India A 113 and 488 for 8 (Padikkal 199, Sai Sudharsan 91, Rathod 66, Washington 51*, Gibson 2-58) lead New Zealand A 317 by 284 runs
Devdutt Padikkal led the way with 199 in the second innings after India A had been rolled over for 113 in their first innings of the first four-day game against New Zealand A in Lincoln. India A ended the third day at 488 for 8 for a lead of 284 runs, as half-centuries from B Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod and Washington Sundar made the day go entirely the visitors' way.
The day started with India A on 106 for 2, still 98 runs behind. Padikkal, who resumed on 56, and Sai Sudharsan, who started with 39 against his name, went on to bat unseparated for the best part of the first session. They had added 215 runs in 340 balls, before Kristian Clarke got rid of Sai Sudharsan nine runs short of a century when the batter tried to pull a delivery from off stump but only sent a simple catch to square leg.
Dhruv Jurel came and went for 2, after he scored just 1 in the first innings. But in Rathod, Padikkal had a solid partner as they ended up adding a-run-a-ball 142 runs, with both batters getting a move on in the hope of leaving enough overs for their bowlers to force a result in their favour.
The stand ended when Padikkal, with a double-century there for the taking, nicked a harmless-looking delivery from Zak Gibson down the leg side to Mitchell Hay behind the stumps. There was a noise as the ball passed the attempted glance, and Padikkal looked shocked when the umpire's finger went up after a subdued appeal. Padikkal stood his ground for a while, but had to walk back in the end.
Padikkal's innings was one of many chunks. When he had walked out, India A were 10 for 2 in the fifth over, and he needed to see the second day out. Then there was need for further consolidation on the third morning, and he did that too. At no stage did he really go into his shell, though.
The first century took Padikkal 128 balls, but was brought up with a six off Jayden Lennox. He slowed down after that, needing 76 further balls to go from 100 to 150. But Padikkal sped up again after the milestone, taking risks - one nick even went past the cordon behind the wickets - and in the end, his 199 took just 248 balls, and was studded with 24 fours and three sixes.
Rathod, India A's top-scorer in the first innings with 44 not out, was worth 66 this time, and he was gutted with himself when he fell, nicking part-time spinner Dean Foxcroft behind to Hay while attempting a cut. That left India A at 378 for 6, but they were far from done.
Washington added 41 in 64 balls with Anshul Kamboj (23) for the seventh wicket, and 69 more in 106 balls with Auqib Nabi for the eighth. Washington, who has now Akash Deep at the other end, will look to take the lead beyond 300 and further on the last morning, depending on how much India A feel secure with.