Badrinath guides India A to three-wicket win

India A 280 (TP Singh 85, Sharma 57, Patel 4-68) and 7 for 209 (Badrinath 70*) beat New Zealand A 332 (McMillan 108, Chawla 5-86) and 153 (Nicol 55, RP Singh 4-33) by three wickets
Scorecard

An unbeaten 70 from Subramaniam Badrinath guided India A to a three-wicket win over New Zealand A on the fourth day of their Top End Series match at Darwin. India needed 206 for victory, and despite a brief hiccup at the top of the innings, eventually crossed the target in 68.4 overs.

It was not all smooth sailing. Cheteshawara Pujara, Shikhar Dhawan and Robin Uthappa each failed for the second time this match, and India were suddenly 3 for 34. It became 4 for 44 when Parthiv Patel, the captain and wicketkeeper, drove Mark Orchard to Michael Papps. It was then that Badrinath was joined by Tejinder Pal Singh to add 94 for the fifth wicket. Tejinder came close to a second fifty in the match, but was bowled by Jeetan Patel, the offspinner, for 46. However, Badrinath held his nerve and in the company of Piyush Chawla, the young legspinner, took India home.

For New Zealand, Patel was the best of the bowling attack, snaring 3 for 46. India will take on Australia A in another four-day contest at Cairns beginning July 18.