Ruturaj Gaikwad impresses, but NZ ‘A’ dominates

BENGALURU: No.3 batter Ruturaj Gaikwad struck a fine 108 off 127 balls before New Zealand ‘A’ fought back to dismiss India ‘A’ for 293 on day one of the third and final unofficial Test here on Thursday.

Gaikwad gave a good account of himself during his knock which included 12 fours and two sixes. Gaikwad shared a 134-run stand with Upendra Yadav (76 off 134 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes) before a batting collapse saw India ‘A’ being bowled out for 293 from a strong 245 for four.

The home team was all out in 86.4 overs with Matthew Fisher taking four wickets for 52 runs in 14 overs. Jacob Duffy (2/56) and Joe Walker (2/65) took two wickets each.

BRIEF SCORES: India ‘A’ 293 in 86.4 overs (R Gaikwad 108, U Yadav 76, M Fisher 4/52) vs New Zealand ‘A’

Kunnummal, Vihari tons put South in command

Debutant opener Rohan Kunnummal (143 off 225 balls, 16 fours, 2 sixes) and skipper Hanuma Vihari (107 batting off 220 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) powered South Zone to a mammoth 324 for two against North Zone at stumps on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy semi-final in Salem on Thursday.

Meanwhile, in Coimbatore, the formidable West Zone was restricted to 252 for nine by Central Zone, with left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya (5/66) picking up a five-wicket haul.

BRIEF SCORES: In Salem: South Zone 324/2 in 90 overs (R Kunnummal 143, H Vihari 107*, M Agarwal 49) vs North Zone. In Coimbatore: West Zone 252/9 in 82 overs (R Tripathi 64*, P Shaw 60, S Mulani 41, Kumar Kartikeya 5/66) vs Central Zone.