New Zealand 277 and 297 for 8 (Bruce 104*, Solia 62, Foxcroft 53) lead Australia A 275 by 299 runs
A century from
Tom Bruce and a late new-ball surge from Australia A arrange a probably fascinating remaining day of the pink-ball match in Mackay.
Bruce, the New Zealand A captain, reached a 148-ball century deep within the remaining session throughout which he handed 5000 first-class runs. By the shut, the guests held a lead of 299 and have been seemingly set for a declaration within the morning.
For a lot of the day the tempo was sedate with New Zealand A, who have been a batter down within the absence of injured wicketkeeper Mitch Hay resulting from a fractured wrist, not often trying to the rise the scoring fee.
However issues got here to life when Australia A took the second ball throughout the remaining session.
Mitch Perry produced an excellent swinging yorker to entice Nick Kelly lbw, breaking a stand of 69 in 22 overs, then eliminated Scott Kuggeleijn first ball with what appeared a extra borderline determination.
Liam Hatcher joined in when he pinned Adithya Ashok for a pair, at which level Bruce was nonetheless wanting his century. He opened his shoulders, whipping Hatcher over the leg aspect for a 4 and 6, then reached his hundred within the subsequent over.
Australia A had a depleted assault for a lot of the day with Ben Dwarshuis (again soreness) and Nathan McAndrew (sickness) changing into unavailable. It meant an elevated workload for Perry and Hatcher who shouldered it impressively, taking their mixed match tally to 14 wickets.
The sport had resumed with New Zealand A holding a slender lead and so they constructed cautiously.
Sean Solia continued his wonderful collection with one other half-century earlier than being lbw in Nathan McSweeney’s first over.
Dean Foxcroft additionally reached fifty earlier than edging a large one from Perry and Muhammad Abbas fell to Hatcher’s brief ball the supply after surviving what appeared a really adjoining lbw attraction.
