Siraj, Mukesh warm up for Test series as 2nd unofficial Test heads towards draw

Mohammed Siraj and Mukesh Kumar shared nine wickets as New Zealand A took a 78-run first-innings lead on Day 3 of the second unofficial Test in Christchurch. India A reached 32 without loss at stumps, trailing by 46 runs with one day left in the game.File photo of Mohammed Siraj. (PTI Photo)New Delhi,Nov 2, 2026 13:51 ISTBrief scores: India A (346 and 32/0) Jaiswal 20* trail New Zealand A (424) Boyle 110, Foxcroft 93 by 46 runs at Stumps on Day 3Mohammed Siraj and Mukesh Kumar shared nine wickets between them, but New Zealand A's lower-order resistance left India A with work to do on Day 3 of the second unofficial Test in Christchurch on Sunday.Replying to India A's first-innings total of 346, New Zealand A were bowled out for 424, taking a 78-run lead. India A reached 32 without loss at stumps, with Yashasvi Jaiswal unbeaten on 20 and Sai Sudharsan on 11. They trail by 46 runs heading into the final day, with a draw looking the likeliest outcome on a pitch that has offered little assistance to the bowlers.Siraj finished with figures of 4/118 from 35 overs, while Mukesh returned 5/87 in 29 overs. The two pacers accounted for all the wickets to fall as India A struggled to dismiss the hosts' lower order. The performance will offer both seamers useful match practice ahead of India's upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand, although the home side's resistance meant India A could not build a substantial advantage.NEW ZEALAND A FRUSTRATE INDIANew Zealand A resumed Day 3 with their innings delicately poised, but India A made early inroads. Siraj removed Matthew Boyle, who had scored 110, with Devdutt Padikkal taking an excellent catch. The pacer also dismissed Dean Foxcroft, who had made 93, ending the resistance of two batters who had occupied the crease for much of the previous day's play. India A continued to chip away at the wickets, reducing New Zealand A to 291/7. However, the hosts' lower order turned the innings around, adding valuable runs and eventually taking the lead.Kristian Clarke and Fraser Sheat put together a 47-run stand for the eighth wicket before Mukesh dismissed Clarke. Sheat then combined with Jayden Lennox to add another 31 runs for the ninth wicket, further frustrating the visitors.Mukesh eventually removed both Sheat and Lennox to complete his five-wicket haul, the 12th of his first-class career. But not before New Zealand A's final pair had made India A work hard for the last wicket.Jarrod McKay and Lennox had added 55 runs in 24.5 overs, batting for more than an hour in the final session and extending the hosts' lead to 78. Their resistance ensured New Zealand A finished with a healthy advantage despite being reduced to 338/8 earlier in the innings.JAISWAL, SUDHARSAN SEE OUT THE DAYIndia A had 11 overs to negotiate before stumps and did so without losing a wicket. Jaiswal and Sudharsan looked composed against the new ball, using their feet to counter the movement and bringing the deficit down to 46 runs.With the pitch still good for batting and little assistance on offer for the bowlers, India A will look to build a lead quickly on the final day. However, the time remaining and the conditions suggest that a draw is the most likely result.- Ends