***Official*** Top End Series

[Gajanayake]

NZ all out for 332. India are 209/6 at stumps.

NZ doing fairly well if u ask me. There are some pretty good up & coming players in that India side so if NZ can do well in this match then there will be plenty of positives.

The NZ A team is far more experienced however with 131 test caps between them compared to just 22 for the Indians (19 of which belong to Parthiv Patel).

 

[Tim]

Yes that is a good point.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Great first session for Pakistan until right at the end, as Cullen broke the partnership and then Watson got Misbah-ul-Haq LBW. Pakistan 3/279 now, still 231 behind. Mohammad Hafeez still there on 141.

A couple of quick wickets after lunch could swing the game in Australia's favour, but right now it's still pretty hard to pick. Draw seems the likely result.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

The NZ A team is far more experienced however with 131 test caps between them compared to just 22 for the Indians (19 of which belong to Parthiv Patel).

That's amazing.

Australia has 5 players who have played tests, but only 13 tests between them. Hodge is the most experienced with 5. Pakistan have 5 as well, and 18 tests experience, with Hasan Raza having 7.

131 tests is fairly experienced for a senior test side.

 

[Arjun]

That's amazing.

Australia has 5 players who have played tests, but only 13 tests between them. Hodge is the most experienced with 5. Pakistan have 5 as well, and 18 tests experience, with Hasan Raza having 7.

131 tests is fairly experienced for a senior test side.

Are there 131 Test caps within both NZ A teams or just one?

With so many, I must ask, is this really the right selection? An A team should be used to breed future national players and give fringe players an opportunity to perform, not allow rejects an easy way back to the national side. It doesn't help much if a lot of ex-national players make up your A-team, does it?

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Are there 131 Test caps within both NZ A teams or just one?

Just the one. I actually count 132, but to be fair they only come from 6 players, three of whom are quite experienced.

McMillan - 55
C. Martin - 31
Sinclair - 25
Bell - 14
Papps - 6
Patel - 1

One can only assume the other team is less experienced.

 

[vic_orthdox]

I guess what you've got now is a legitimate "A" side here. The difference is though that Martin, Papps, Sinclair and McMillan are all in with a realistic shot of playing for NZ in the next 12 months. It's not like when Aus used to have a very settled middle-order, and so they could afford to experiment with their "A" side.

 

[Tim]

Are there 131 Test caps within both NZ A teams or just one?

With so many, I must ask, is this really the right selection? An A team should be used to breed future national players and give fringe players an opportunity to perform, not allow rejects an easy way back to the national side. It doesn't help much if a lot of ex-national players make up your A-team, does it?

Yes, but if you look at the other 'A' side for NZ, it's pretty in-experienced. They're just using the whole tournament to give as many players some tougher cricket as possible.

 

[adharcric]

Tim, you know the score in the Ind-NZ match?

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Pakistan A all out for 431. Leg-spinner Cullen Bailey got 4 of the last 5 wickets, and finished with 4/71, while Mitchell Johnson got 3/93.

Still an outside chance of a result if there's a sporting declaration early tomorrow, but a draw is the likely finish.

 

[Tim]

Na sorry mate, haven't been able to track down the latest score between NZ & India.
NZ has defeated South Africa in a 50 over match in Brisbane, a pretty low scoring affair but it was good that we got one up over the Saffies.

 

[Haddin]

I know the NZ India score. But its at least 3 hours old. Bloody flat. I was just at the India V NZ game, and its a very even game. NZ are 3/56 in their second innings, India replied with 280, and The wickets were How, bowled for no shot. McMillian played... an awful shot.

 

[andyc]

Relatively good display from the Aussies to get a first innings lead considering Pakistan's start. Good to see a young spinner going well too.

 

[Haddin]

Go Cullen Bailey! Good stuff! And the Cricket Scores will be on in my local news, I will tell you the Indian Scores if you like.

 

[honestbharani]

plz do, Haddin.

 

[Tim]

Jamie How can't be in that game, he's down in Brisbane.

lol, typical McMillan follows up his century with a ridiculous dismissal....he will never learn.

 

[adharcric]

An excellent day of cricket for India A. Rohit Sharma (57) and TP Singh (85) took the total to a respectable 280 as the tail succumbed without resistance. With a 52-run lead in hand, the Kiwis collapsed to 153 all out in their second innings. RP Singh was impressive, picking 4 for 33. Piyush Chawla did his expected part by picking up two big wickets, but the surprise was Cheteshwar Pujara with 2 for 16. Dhawan and Pujara will be at the crease tomorrow as India A look to chase down 206 on the final day of play. Should be interesting.

 

[Tim]

Well i'd be backing India, but the NZ 'A' bowling attack is fairly decent for this level so if they work hard they could get back in to the match.

 

[andyc]

Aussies in a bit of trouble at 5/105. Watson is 25*, but Hodge is yet to bat, so I'm guessing he's injured. Jaques has been the top scorer so far with 48, while Abdur Rehman has returned figures of 3/24 off 17 overs.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Looks like it'll be a draw, but an interesting final day nonetheless. Watson made another unbeaten 60 odd during a collapse as the team went for quick runs, and Australia A declared leaving a target of 245 to win.

Mitchell Johnson has two wickets either side of tea, with Pakistan A at 2/65 from just 9 overs.