By IANS,
Chennai : Sourav Ganguly could not get the desired knock in the middle, bating for India A against New Zealand A here Saturday. He was run out for 14 after leg-spinner Amit Mishra celebrated his call-up to the Test squad with a six-wicket haul to restrict the visitors to 315 in the first innings.
India A reached 162 for three at stumps on the second day of the four-day cricket match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Mishra, who got his maiden call-up in the Indian squad for the first two Tests against Australia, claimed six wickets to bowl out New Zealand for 315.
After New Zealand A collapsed in the morning, the Indians started badly, losing three wickets, including that of Ganguly, and skipper Suresh Raina, centurion in the first Test.
Murali Vijay yet again underlined his talent with an unbeaten 76 and along with Cheteshwar Pujara (41) pulled India A out of trouble as the home team lost three wickets with 56 on board.
At this stage Vijay, who had scored a half-century in the first match earlier this week, and Pujara, one of the leading run-getters at the Under-19 World Cup, got together in a rescue act for the fourth wicket.
The pair batted with a fine mix of caution and aggression to blunt the Kiwi attack that at one point threatened to take apart the Indian innings especially after Ganguly’s run out.
Earlier in the day, the New Zealand line-up disappointed again, losing their last seven wickets for just 45 runs after beginning the day at their overnight score of 270 for three.
Mishra was in his elements as the Kiwi middle order failed to read the leg-spinner’s variations and went down in a heap.