Raina's ton helps India A set a stiff target for Kiwis

Chennai, Sep 30 (UNI) New Zealand A were off to a poor start and had lost one wicket for 41 at stumps after India A set a stiff victory target of 355 runs on the third day of the four-day first class match at the M A Chidambaram stadium here today.

At stumps, Aaron Redmond was batting on 25 (52 balls, three fours, one six) and Peter Fulton was giving him company on seven with a tough task ahead for the visitors on the final day tomorrow.

India A made a fine recovery in their second innings resuming at the overnight score of 27 for one, thanks to a scintillting knock of 146, by captain Suresh Raina, which came off 130 balls with the help of ten fours and eight sixes.

Opener M Vijay (57), S Kukreja (41) and Wriddhiman Saha (39) chipped in with useful contributions for India.

Vijay and Kukreja added 83 runs for the third wicket in 18.5 overs, batting together for 70 minutes.

Later, for the sixth wicket, Suresh Raina and Saha put on 88 runs in 17.2 overs.

The Kiwi medium pacers Trent Arnel (4-38) and Trent Boult (3-34) were the most successful bowlers.

Starting their second innings, the Kiwis lost their opener D J Wadling leg before to India A pacer Manish Parmar for just six.

Brief Scores: India A - 248 all out and 336 all out (S Kukreja 41, Suresh Raina 146, M Vijay 57, Trent Arnel 4-38, Trent Boult 3-34).

New Zealand A - 230 all out and 41 for 1 (A Aaron Redmond batting 25).

UNI VV SJ RAR KN1956