India vs New Zealand: Ajinkya Rahane warms up for Test series with unbeaten ton in drawn game against New Zealand A

Lincoln: India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane warmed up for the Test series in New Zealand with an unbeaten 101 for the touring ‘A’ side in the drawn four-day game against New Zealand ‘A’ here on Monday. In response to New Zealand A’s 386 for nine, India ‘A’ reached 467 for five in 109.3 overs when the game ended in a draw on the fourth and final day. The end of the second unofficial Test also marked the end of the A tour. [caption id=“attachment_7692031” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Ajinkya Rahane. AP [/caption] Rahane stayed unbeaten on 101 off 148 balls and his knock comprised 15 fours and a six. Shubman Gill, who has scored a double hundred in the first game at number four, continued his good run with the bat, making another hundred on day three, this time as an opener. Resuming day four at 107, Gill, who too is part of the Test squad, went on to make 136. Rahane took over from there and got much needed time in the middle ahead of the first Test beginning in Wellington on 21 February. A practice game will also be played before the series-opener. Vijay Shankar also made a valuable contribution with a 66-run knock. Test number three Cheteshwar Pujara had made a solid half-century on day three. He could only score a run on day four and was dismissed on 53. Among the other Test regulars, off-spinner R Aswhin bowled 37.5 overs in the New Zealand innings, conceding 98 runs for two wickets. Brief Scores: New Zealand A 1st innings: 386 for 9 in 131.5 overs (Daryl Mitchell 103, Glenn Phillips 65; Sandeep Warrier 2/50). India A 1st innings: 467/5 in 109.3 overs (Shubman Gill 136, Cheteshwar Pujara 53, Ajinkya Rahane 101 not out; Blair Tickner 1/71, Ed Nuttall 2/98).