Lincoln: India A suffered some tense moments before clinching a three wicket victory over New Zealand A by three wickets in a low-scoring affair in the first unofficial One Day match here at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval on Wednesday.
India who elected to bowl first made good use of the conditions and bowled out Kiwis for a paltry 176.
The match which was scheduled for yesterday but could not be completed due to unfavourable conditions saw India dominate the New Zealand batsmen.
Jaydev Unadkat was the tormenter –in-chief for India and he accounted for four wickets.
The hosts at a point of time were down 51-5 but then it was Derek de Boorder and skipper Andrew Ellis who got their act together and started the damage control.
They stitched a partnership of 80 runs with Boorfer and Andrew Ellis scoring 62 and 45.
Unadkat’s performance well complimeted by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rahul Sharma as both of them picked up two wickets apiece.
In reply India got off to a steady start and the openers put up a 51-run opening stand with Abhinav Mukund and skipper Unmukt Chand scoring 20 and 32 respectively.
Once they departed, the floodgates opened and India lost flurry of wickets. Mandeep Singh steadied the Indian ship and scored 34 of 66 deliveries laced with one boundary and two sixes.
But it was the batting pair of Ambati Rayudu (26) and Rahul Sharma (31) that helped India out of trouble and ensured India a win.
Medium pacer Mitchell McClenaghan picked up three wickets for the hosts by giving away 52 runs in his stipulated 10 overs.
Brief scores:
New Zealand A 176 (de Boorder 62, Ellis 45, Unadkat 4-44)
India: 180 for 7 (Mandeep 34, McClenaghan 3-42)
By Indian Sports News Network
