1st Unofficial Test: Mukesh Kumar Shines As India A Restrict New Zealand A To 156/5 On Day 1

Bengal seamer Mukesh Kumar bowled to a probing channel in all his spells as India A stifled New Zealand A to 156 for five before bad light stopped play on the opening day of the first 'Unofficial' Test. Playing for a representative national side (India U-19, India U-23, India A or Senior India) for the first time, the right-arm fast-medium bowler got the ball to move both ways and finished with figures of 13-4-34-3, with a wicket in each of his three spells.

In fact, Mukesh got wickets with the new (4.3 overs), semi-new (35.3 overs) and old ball (57.4 overs), as only 61 overs of play was possible out of the maximum 90.

While two left-arm pacers Yash Dayal (13-2-35-1) and Arzan Nagwaswalla (13-2-34-1) also got a wicket apiece, Mukesh was the best bowler on the day by a fair distance.

Not only did he bowl to a probing channel but he also forced the New Zealand batters to play most of his deliveries, unlike the other two who were letting them leave quite a few.

Mukesh drew the first blood when he got one to move a shade as opener Chad Bowes (5) edged one to Ruturaj Gaikwad at first slip.

It wasn't long before Nagwaswalla struck at the stroke of an hour when left-hander and Black Caps Test player Rachin Ravindra (12), sent to open, tried to drive a fuller length delivery, only to offer a catch to Rajat Patidar at second slip.

Dayal joined the list of wicket-takers when Abhimanyu Easwaran held on to a catch in the second slips to dismiss southpaw Mark Chapman (15), who has played T20Is as recently as the month of July.

The right-handed No. 3 Joe Carter (73 batting off 170 balls) showed a lot of composure, having come out to bat only in the fifth over. Carter has so far hit 10 fours in his innings.

When Carter and skipper