Mohammed Siraj returned figures of 4/118 from 35 overs on Day 3 of the second unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. His spell helped bowl the hosts out for 424, though India A conceded a 78-run first-innings lead.
Match Context: Day 3 at Hagley Oval
New Zealand A built their total after a difficult start, recovering from 13/3 to post 424. The recovery was driven by one long partnership between Matthew Boyle and Dean Foxcroft.
India A were 32/0 at stumps in their second innings. They still trail by 46 runs with all ten wickets in hand.
Day 3 Match Snapshot| Metric | Value |
|---|
| New Zealand A first innings | 424 |
| India A first innings (derived) | 346 |
| First-innings lead to New Zealand A | 78 runs |
| India A second innings at stumps | 32/0 |
| India A deficit at stumps | 46 runs |
Siraj's Spell: Wicket-by-Wicket Breakdown
Siraj's four wickets were spread across the innings rather than concentrated in a single burst. That spread reflects the workload of 35 overs across three days.
Siraj removed Rhys Mariu for 4 runs early in the innings. New Zealand A were 13/3 at that stage, which gave India A a strong position.
Ending the 200-Plus Partnership
Boyle and Foxcroft then added more than 200 runs, the most damaging stand of the innings. Siraj broke it by dismissing Foxcroft for 93 with the second new ball.
Boyle and Randell Complete the Haul
On the first delivery of Day 3, Siraj dismissed Boyle, who top-scored with 110. A tenth-wicket stand extended the innings further, before Siraj removed Brett Randell shortly after lunch to complete his four-wicket haul.
Siraj's Dismissals in the Innings| Batter | Runs | Context |
|---|
| Rhys Mariu | 4 | Early wicket, New Zealand A at 13/3 |
| Dean Foxcroft | 93 | Ended 200-plus partnership, second new ball |
| Matthew Boyle | 110 | First delivery of Day 3, top scorer |
| Brett Randell | Not specified | Dismissed shortly after lunch |
Fitting Siraj Into India A's Bowling Effort
Siraj and Mukesh Kumar accounted for nine of the ten wickets. Washington Sundar took the remaining one.
Mukesh was the standout with 5/87. Siraj's 4/118 came at a higher cost but over a heavy workload.
India A Bowling Contributions (Wickets Listed)| Bowler | Wickets | Runs Conceded | Share of Wickets |
|---|
| Mukesh Kumar | 5 | 87 | 50% |
| Mohammed Siraj | 4 | 118 | 40% |
| Washington Sundar | 1 | Not specified | 10% |
Workload and Economy
Siraj's 118 runs from 35 overs works out to an economy rate of about 3.37. His bowling average in the innings was 29.50 runs per wicket.
Siraj and Mukesh together took 9 wickets for 205 runs, an average of roughly 22.78. That pairing carried the attack against a total built on a surface that offered batters enough to score.
Career Context: First-Class and Test Record
The four-wicket haul was Siraj's 23rd in First-Class cricket, achieved in his 97th match. He now has 329 First-Class wickets at an average of around 27, including 10 five-wicket hauls.
That equates to roughly 3.39 wickets per First-Class match. In Tests, he has 144 wickets from 48 matches at 29.63, or exactly 3.0 wickets per match.
Mohammed Siraj Career Numbers| Format | Matches | Wickets | Average | 5-Wicket Hauls | 4-Wicket Hauls |
|---|
| First-Class | 97 | 329 | About 27 | 10 | 23 |
| Tests | 48 | 144 | 29.63 | 5 | 8 |
Trend Comparison
Siraj's First-Class average of about 27 is lower than his Test average of 29.63, a gap of roughly 2.6 runs per wicket. That is consistent with the step up in opposition quality at Test level.
His Test four-wicket hauls account for 8 of his 23 in First-Class cricket, about 35%.
What the Numbers Suggest Going Forward
India A's position is competitive rather than commanding. They trail by 46 runs with no wicket lost, so the second-innings batting will largely decide the match.
For Siraj, the spell adds to a steady red-ball record as he approaches 100 First-Class matches. The 35-overs workload also shows his capacity for sustained spells, a useful marker for selectors tracking fitness and consistency.