RAJKOT (India), Oct 4: Left-hander Hemang Badani notched up a century for India ‘A’ as New Zealand’s reputation suffered a few dents on the concluding day of a three-day tour game here on Saturday.
The visiting side were reduced to 68-4 at close after conceding a 28-run first innings lead against the second-string Indian team ahead of a two-Test series starting at Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
Tamil Nadu batsman Badani, who has represented India in four Tests without much success, struck 127 off 187 deliveries with the help of 16 fours and two sixes.
Badani played positively from early on despite a lack of support from the middle-order, using his feet well and timing the ball to perfection.
Openers Sadagoppan Ramesh (110) and Akash Chopra (66) had earlier on Friday given a solid start to the home side with a 164-run stand.
For New Zealand, seamer Daryl Tuffy and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori finished with three scalps each.
New Zealand struggled in their second innings, suffering at the hands of paceman Munaf Patel and left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, who took two wickets each.
Sharing the new ball with Patel, Kartik dismissed Mark Richardson and Scott Styris while Patel removed captain Stephen Fleming and trapped Nathan Astle leg-before wicket for the second time in the match.
Scoreboard
NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings) 375-7 declared (M.H. Richardson 128, J.D.P. Oram 101 not out).
INDIA ‘A’ (1st Innings, overnight 216-4):
A. Chopra c Wiseman b Oram 66
S. Ramesh c Fleming b Tuffey 110
C. Williams c Styris b Vettori 4
M. Kaif c Hart b Styris 4
H.K. Badani c Hart b McMillan 127
M. Kartik c Hart b Oram 10
R.J. Gavaskar c Richardson b Vettori 1
D. Dasgupta c Hart b Tuffey 21
S. Sreeshanth b Vettori 16
Rudra Pratap Singh c Hart b Tuffey 13
Munaf Patel not out 0
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-9, W-1, NB-20) 31
TOTAL (all out, 132 overs) 403
FALL OF WKTS: 1-164, 2-170, 3-195, 4-209, 5-225, 6-228, 7-300, 8-386, 9-403.