India A vs New Zealand A: Tim Seifert's fifty takes hosts to 121/3 after Karun Nair-led side collapse to 323

Whangarei: Tim Seifert scored an unbeaten fifty to take New Zealand A to 121 for three in their first innings after dismissing India A for 323 on the second day of the third unofficial Test here Saturday. Resuming on 248 for four, India lost their remaining six wickets for just 75 with the pace duo of Lockie Ferguson (4/88) and Doug Bracewell (5/78) tormenting the visitors with three wickets each. [caption id=“attachment_4393551” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Getty Images[/caption] In reply, New Zealand A were 50 for two in 17.2 overs, before Seifert (55 not out) and GD Phillips (27) steadied the ship with a 59-run third-wicket partnership. Seifert had eight hits to the fence in his 140-ball unbeaten innings. At the draw of stumps, R Ravindra (5) was giving company to Seifert with New Zealand A still trailing by 202 runs with seven wickets remaining in their 1st innings. Earlier, Shubman Gill, who was three runs shy of a fifty on the opening day, added 15 runs to his score before being dismissed by Ferguson in the 76th over, triggering a collapse. Overnight batsman V Shankar (71), too, was sent packing in the 78th over by Ferguson as India A slipped to 275 for six. The 27-year-old pacer then picked his third wicket of the day, getting rid of K Gowtham (1). K S Bharat (47) threw his bat to good effect, blasting seven fours and a six in his run-a-ball 47. But he soon lost support at the other end as Bracewell removed Mohammed Siraj (0), Rajneesh Gurbani (0) before accounting for the India A wicketkeeper batsman. Brief score: India A: 323 allout in 89 overs (V Shankar 71, Shubham Gill 62; Bracewell 5/78, L Ferguson 4/88) New Zealand A: 121 for 3 in 52 overs (TL Seifert 55 not out; Mohammed Siraj 2/25).