With an innings and 26-run win over New Zealand 'A' in the second four-day match, India 'A' swept the two-match series 2-0. The spin duo of Karn Sharma and Shahbaz Nadeem were instrumental in bowling the visitors out twice to claim a thumping win. While the bowlers had kept the opposition on their toes, Ankit Bawne's unbeaten 162 off 245 balls helped set up the match for the hosts in Vijayawada.
Shardul Thakur dealt early blows to leave NZ 'A' 11 for two after the visitors opted to field in the second game of the tour. Nitin Saini followed up with the wicket of Will Young to leave the tourists on 34 for three. In an effort to revive the innings opener, Jeet Raval and Colin Munro put together 82 runs until Thakur struck again to end the partnership. The pacer claimed Raval to leave NZ 'A' on 116 for four. Karn and Nadeem then claimed three and two wickets respectively to wrap-up the NZ 'A' innings for 211.
While scripting the reply, India 'A' lost R Samarth to Seth Rance in the first over without a run on the board. Priyank Panchal and Shreyas Iyer then took the home team to stumps at 33 for one.
Early on the second day while the opener held one end up, Iyer milked the bowlers to keep the balance tipped in his team's favour. The No 3 bat's blistering knock comprising two sixes and ten boundaries was ended on 82 (off 79) by Ish Sodhi. With the team comfortably placed at 133 for two, captain Karun Nair joined the opener in the middle, but nine runs later Panchal was sent back by Scott Kuggeleijn.
Nair then added 64 runs for the fourth wicket taking India 'A' past the 200-run mark before he was dismissed by Sodhi.
Bawne then found an able ally in Parthiv Patel. The pair built a solid stand as they took India 'A' to Stumps on Day 2 at 360 for four.
Their flourishing stand was worth 166 runs when the wicketkeeper-batsman drafted into the side for Rishabh Pant was bowled by Rance for 65 on the third day. Bawne continued to rally on and added useful runs with the lower-order until he ran out of partners. He had helped the side add 87 runs to the overnight score until they were bowled out for 447 on the penultimate day of the game.
Courtesy Bawane's patient unbeaten ton, India 'A' were comfortably placed with a 236-run lead. Although Nadeem had accounted for George Worker in the 11th over, Raval and Henry Nicholls joined forces in an effort to put up a better show in the second innings. With bad light once again stopping play before scheduled time NZ 'A' were 104 for one at the end of third day's play.
However, the Indian spinners dismantled the NZ 'A' line-up on the last day in less than two sessions to ring in victory.
Nadeem trapped Raval lbw with only 20 runs added to the visitors’ overnight total to set the ball rolling. While Nicholls strove to keep the innings in fray, Nadeem and Karn ran through the line-up to bowl NZ 'A' out for 210.
Karn claimed 5/78 while Nadeem took 4/41 and Thakur chipped in with one wicket to bowl India ‘A’ to victory.
