Young Gujarat batsman Manprit Juneja showed perfect temperament for longer format, scoring a patient unbeaten 178 in India A’s first innings score of 408 for seven against New Zealand A at stumps on third day of the second unofficial ‘Test’ here on Wednesday.
A week short of his 23rd birthday, Juneja batted throughout the entire third day adding 135 runs to his overnight tally of 43. He also put on a huge 197-run third wicket stand with Vasudevan Jagadeesh (91), who missed out on a ton by just nine runs.
Juneja then let his skipper Abhishek Nayar (58) dominate in a quickfire 88-run partnership for the fourth wicket. For New Zealand, pacer Doug Bracewell was the most successful bowler picking up three for 78.
The Indians, who trail New Zealand A by just 29 runs with three wickets remaining, will be hoping that Juneja scores a double century before the bowlers get another shot at the Kiwi line-up on the final day on Thursday.
Juneja made the headlines couple of seasons back when he scored a double hundred on Ranji Trophy debut, and this fifth first-class century in just 12 matches speaks volumes about the right-hander’s talent.
Brief Scores
New Zealand A: (1st Innings) 437 lead India A: (1st innings) 408 for 7 (Manprit Juneja 178 batting, Vasudevan Jagadeesh 91, Abhishek Nayar 58, Doug Bracewell 3/75) by 39 runs.
West Indies agree to November tour
St John’s (Antigua): The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) on Wednesday accepted India’s invitation for a series in November which would allow senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar to play his milestone 200th Test in front of home fans.
“The WICB today confirmed that the West Indies team will tour India in November. The tour will include a two Test series and three One Day Internationals. The WICB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India agreed to utilise the mutually available window in November for the tour,” the WICB said in a statement.
The tour was proposed by the BCCI’s working committee in a meeting on Sunday and would precede India’s trip to South Africa in December.
Agencies