Mumbai, Sep 23: New Zealand A beat India A by 65 runs to level the three-match one-day series 1-1 at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. The teams will now play two multi-day matches starting from September 26, 2012.

Chasing 229 runs, India were bowled out for 163 with 47 balls to spare. Neil Wagner and Tarun Nethula ran through the Indian line-up claiming four and three wickets respectively, while Tent Boult chipped in with two wickets.

Wagner gave NZ A their first breakthrough in the 13th over with the wicket of opener Abhinav Mukund. After the left-arm pacer claimed the Indian captain, Andrew Ellis followed up with the wicket of Naman Ojha. 14 runs later, Boult rattled Unmukt Chand’s stumps to send back the young opener for 46. From there on it was an uphill task for the visitors as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Unable to build partnerships, the Indian batsmen returned to the pavilion one after the other without making any substantial contributions. Coming together at 95 for five, Ashok Menaria (30) and Jalaj Saxena attempted to revive the Indian innings with a late fight but their heroics didn’t last long. Nethula claimed Menaria to end the partnership for 47 runs. Saxena however tried to hold one end but ran out of partners at the other. He remained unbeaten on 26 as India lost the match.

Earlier, half-centuries by Daniel Flynn (54), Neil Broom and Derek de Boorder helped New Zealand A post a modest total of 228 for eight, after opting to bat first.

After the home team lost opener George Worker early in the innings, Tom Latham (30), who had replaced Hamish Rutherford, struck a 41-run stand for the second wicket, before being castled by Shami Ahmed. Broom then joined Flynn at the crease and the duo added 64 runs to the total until Ashok Menaria ended the partnership. With Dean Brownlie following Flynn back to the dressing room soon after, Boorder joined Broom in the middle. The duo stitched together a 57-run partnership, before Vinay Kumar struck again. The pacer, who had earlier trapped Worker leg-before, sent back Broom for 51.

With less than five overs left in the innings and 200 runs on the board, skipper Andrew Ellis came in to bat but departed cheaply. Caught by Vinay Kumar off Jaydev Unadkat, the NZ A skipper returned to the dressing-room for two. Eight runs later, Vinay Kumar bowled Neil Wagner (2) out to claim his third scalp of the match. And a little later Boorder was the run-out for 51 with one ball left in the innings.

Brief scores: New Zealand A 228/8 in 50 overs (D Flynn 54, N Broom 51, D de Boorder 51, V Kumar 3/ 36) beat India A 163 all out in 42.1 overs (U Chand 46, N Wagner 4/36, TS Nethula 3/46, TA Boult 2/30) by 65 runs