XtraTime Web Desk: Indian opener Mayank Agarwal finds his form just ahead of the Test series against New Zealand and beside him Rishabh Pant too was seen in good touch as India played out a draw with New Zealand XI in the three-da warm up game on Sunday.
The match was called off an hour after lunch with India reaching 252/4 just 48 overs into their second innings.
Agarwal, who had gone through a wretched period since the second Test against Bangladesh, retired on 81 off 99 balls with 10 fours and three sixes to his name.
To the relief of the Indian team management, Pant played in his customary manner to reach 70 off 65 balls, but also showed discretion when the opposition bowlers were in the midst of a good spell.
There were four sixes — two each off leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and off-spinner Henry Cooper.
While Sodhi was hit down the ground, Cooper was dispatched over extra cover on a couple of occasions. He didn’t curb his aggression though. There were times when he was ready to defend against the spinners and also leave some of the deliveries that the Kiwi pacers bowled.
Even though Pant is easily the better batsman compared to his senior Wriddhiman Saha, the innings might have come too late in the day considering that the latter is a better wicketkeeper and possibly a more responsible batsman in pressure situations.
Match drawn! The players shake hands as India wrap up Day 3 with 252/4 runs in the second innings of the three-day practice game.
The biggest positive to have emerged from India’s second innings is Agarwal’s poor run coming to an end. The Seddon Park track easing out was definitely a factor but Agarwal’s footwork was more assured as he played some glorious on-drives and pull shots off fast bowlers.
Before this game, Agarwal had played 10 competitive games, including first-class, ODIs and List A matches, and couldn’t cross the 40-run mark in 11 completed innings. He even bagged a pair against New Zealand A in an unofficial Test match.
Once he had got his form back, he didn’t come out to bat after lunch giving Saha an opportunity to score an unbeaten 30, his runs coming mostly against non-regular bowlers.
The Agarwal-Pant pair added 100 runs in 14.3 overs.
In the morning, Prithvi Shaw (39 off 31 balls) was bowled through the gate by Daryl Mitchell as the batsman left a gaping hole between his bat and pad.
Shaw, though, seemed to have done enough during his brisk 72-run stand with Agarwal, which could put an end to the debate around the opening slot even though the tracks in Wellington and Christchurch could be a test of technique for the flamboyant Mumbaikar.
It was a match that Shubman Gill would perhaps like to forget in a hurry as he was dismissed cheaply for the second time in a row. He scored 8 before Daryl Mitchell trapped him leg before wicket.