Prithvi Shaw stars as India A hand New Zealand XI 12-run defeat

Prithvi Shaw slammed a 100-ball 150 in India A's 12-run victory over New Zealand XI in second practice game here on Sunday, coming back from an injury in manner that matched hype around him.

Eyeing a return to Indian senior team, 20-year-old Shaw struck 22 fours and two sixes during his blazing kck at Bert Sutcliffe Oval. Shaw's kck will certainly excite selectors as y pick squad for Test series in New Zealand. first Test will get underway on February 21 at Basin Reserve in Hamilton and second match is scheduled to be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, starting February 29.

Batting first, India A were all out for an imposing 372 in 49.2 overs before restricting home side to 360 for six to register ir second win of tour. Shaw was in sparkling touch since returning from his eight-month doping ban, but a shoulder injury on opening day of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy game against Karnataka cut short his run, ruling him out of India A's first practice match here. Mayank Agarwal (32) and Shaw stitched an 89-run opening stand but former was dismissed by pacer Andrew Hazeldine.

Skipper Shubman Gill (24), Suryakumar Yadav (26) and Ishan Kishan (14) alongside Shaw kept scoreboard ticking, helping India reach 241 in 31 overs. After dismissal of Shaw in beginning of 35th over, all-rounder Vijay Shankar stamped his authority with a 41-ball 58. Chasing 373, New Zealand suffered an early blow with opener Katene Clarke (1) departing in second over. Josh Clarkson (14) soon followed, leaving home team struggling at 2-27.

Opener Jack Boyle (130) and Finn Allen (87) kept New Zealand in fight before hosts ran out of overs. For India, right-arm medium-pacer Ishan Porel (2/39) and spinner Krunal Pandya (2/50) grabbed two wickets each. Having recovered from injury, Shaw has straightaway set his sights on his immediate goals, with a fine kck. Shaw had hurt his left shoulder while trying to save an overthrow during match against Karnataka at Bandra Kurla Complex. India A had won first practice game by 92 runs.