India A's fast bowlers made an early impact on the second day of the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A, but a fourth-wicket partnership helped the hosts steady their innings at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. India A had been bowled out for 346 in their first innings. At 07:19 IST on November 1, New Zealand A had reached 77 for three after 21.5 overs, still 269 runs behind.
Mukesh Kumar and Mohammed Siraj shared the first three wickets to fall. Mukesh removed both New Zealand A openers in the same over, while Siraj accounted for Rhys Mariu. Dean Foxcroft and Matthew Boyle then resisted the Indian attack, putting together an unbeaten 64-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Mukesh and Siraj put India A in control
Mukesh began the sequence by dismissing Curtis Heaphy for four. The left-hander chased a fuller delivery outside off and edged it to gully, where Yashasvi Jaiswal took the catch. Three balls later, Mukesh trapped Tim Robinson lbw for three with a delivery that jagged back sharply from a good length.
Siraj added the third wicket by removing Mariu for four. He brought a length delivery back towards the batter, who pushed at it without moving his feet sufficiently. The resulting outside edge was held by Dhruv Jurel, who dived full length to his right to complete the catch. New Zealand A were left at 13 for three.
The early strikes gave India A a strong start with the ball after posting 346. The live commentary described the new-ball spell from Mukesh and Siraj as a sustained examination of the New Zealand A top order, with movement off the pitch and disciplined lines creating repeated chances.
Foxcroft and Boyle lead the recovery
New Zealand A avoided further immediate damage through Foxcroft and Boyle. The pair built a 64-run partnership from 83 balls, taking the score to 77 for three by the 21.5-over mark. Foxcroft was unbeaten on 25 from 45 deliveries, including three fours, while Boyle had made 31 from 39 balls with five boundaries.
The stand changed the immediate momentum after the home side had lost three wickets for just 13 runs. It also reduced the pressure on the remaining batting order, although New Zealand A still had a substantial first-innings deficit to overcome. At the latest update, they were 269 runs behind India's 346.
The partnership was still in progress at the time of the Times of India update. The score and individual figures in this report are therefore a snapshot from 07:19 IST on November 1 rather than a final position or result.
India A's first-innings platform
India A's total of 346 followed a recovery led by captain Dhruv Jurel and lower-order support. Cricbuzz's match commentary records Jurel reaching a century before his dismissal and Akash Deep contributing 68, his highest first-class score, as India A moved beyond the 300 mark. The Times of India live blog's match summary also highlighted Jurel's unbeaten 99 and Devdutt Padikkal's 80 in its description of the earlier day's batting effort, although its summary text contains an inconsistent reference to the first unofficial Test.
The current match is the second unofficial Test of India A's tour of New Zealand and is being played at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. With New Zealand A three down and still trailing by 269, the next phase of the innings will be important in determining whether the hosts can narrow the deficit or India A can continue to make regular breakthroughs.
What to watch next
India A will look to separate Foxcroft and Boyle and expose the lower order, while New Zealand A need to extend their fourth-wicket resistance and reduce the gap to India's first-innings score. The latest available live update had the partnership intact at 64, with both batters set at the crease.
This report reflects the live score published by The Times of India at 07:19 IST on November 1, 2026, cross-checked against Cricbuzz's match page for the venue, innings total and bowling sequence. As this is an ongoing match, scores and batting figures may change with subsequent play.
Frequently asked questions
What is the score in the India A vs New Zealand A second unofficial Test?
At 07:19 IST on November 1, New Zealand A were 77 for three after 21.5 overs in reply to India A's 346. The hosts were 269 runs behind, with Dean Foxcroft unbeaten on 25 and Matthew Boyle on 31.
Who took wickets for India A on Day 2?
Mukesh Kumar dismissed Curtis Heaphy and Tim Robinson, taking two wickets in the same over. Mohammed Siraj then removed Rhys Mariu, with wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel completing the catch. New Zealand A were reduced to 13 for three.
How many runs did India A score in the first innings?
India A were bowled out for 346 in their first innings. Dhruv Jurel and Akash Deep made important contributions in the lower order after India A had earlier lost wickets in clusters.
Who is batting for New Zealand A after the early wickets?
Dean Foxcroft and Matthew Boyle were batting together after New Zealand A lost their first three wickets for 13 runs. At the latest update in the Times of India live blog at 07:19 IST, Foxcroft was 25 not out and Boyle was 31 not out.
Where is the second unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A being played?
The second unofficial Test of India A's 2026 tour of New Zealand is being played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The match began on October 30 and is scheduled as a four-day fixture.