Shaw hits 62, Vijay, Rahane misfire vs New Zealand A

Mount Maunganui (New Zealand), November 16 

Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane were dismissed cheaply but Prithvi Shaw and Hanuma Vihari warmed up nicely for the Australia Test series with half-centuries for India A against New Zealand in the first unofficial Test.

At stumps on the opening day, India A scored 340/5 with opener Shaw (62), middle-order batsman Hanuma Vihari (86) and Parthiv Patel (79 *) utilising the opportunity to the fullest. However, opener Vijay (28) and Rahane (12) found their defences breached by Blair Tickner and Doug Bracewell, respectively.

In-form Vihari, who made his Test debut against England with a half-century, was dismissed on the last ball of the day. Vihari hit eight boundaries during his stay in the middle, while Patel has so far found the fence 10 times.  Also scoring a half-century was Mayank Agarwal (65), who came in at No. 3. India A were given a fine start by Shaw and Vijay. The Mumbaikar then added 50 runs for the second wicket with Agarwal, before he was dismissed by slow-left-arm spinner Theo van Woerkom. Vihari joined Agarwal in the middle and added 73 runs for the third wicket till the Karnataka player was bowled by medium-pacer Blair Tickner. Shaw struck six boundaries and a six in his 88-ball stay, while Agarwal hit 10 fours and two sixes.

Skipper Rahane did not last long but the duo of Vihari and Patel put together a stand of 138 runs for the sixth wicket to consolidate India A’s position at the Bay Oval. Tickner was the most successful bowler for the hosts, finishing the day with 2/48 in 15 overs. — PTI

Brief Scores: India A: 340/5 (Vihari 85, Parthiv 79*, Agarwal 65, Shaw 62; Tickner 2/48) vs New Zealand A

Armaan Jaffer hits triple ton vs Saurashtra

Mumbai: Armaan Jaffer slammed an unbeaten triple hundred for Mumbai in their U-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy match against Saurashtra. The 20-year-old, who has played three first-class matches, slammed an unbeaten 300 off 367 balls, striking 26 boundaries and 10 sixes. Courtesy Jaffer’s knock, Mumbai declared their first innings at a mammoth 610/5 after bundling out Saurashtra for 175 in their first innings. In the second outing, Saurashtra were 157/4 at stumps on the penultimate day of the four-day match. Saurashtra trail by 278 runs. The knock came at the right time for Jaffer as he had recently made a comeback after suffering a knee injury which had kept him out for a year. “This was a special knock because I want to make a comeback in the Ranji Trophy team and needed a big one. In the last match, I was going good but fell for 80. This match was on the home ground, so it was important that I score big to make a comeback,” he told reporters. Armaan’s uncle Wasim Jaffer is a former India player. Jaffer was part of India’s U-19 team at the 2016 World Cup. He was also a part of Kings XI Punjab squad. — PTI