Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane got some much needed time in the middle after the first unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui ended in a draw.
It has been a struggle for Vijay, who has been out of the National squad in recent times but on Monday, the Indian opener scored a morale boosting 113-ball 60 which included eight hits to the fence.
Skipper Rahane, too, has not been in the best of form going into the New Zealand A series, so an unbeaten 41 off 94 deliveries should give him confidence ahead of the high profile Test series against Australia starting on December 6 in Adelaide.
Fifties by young opener Prithvi Shaw and Hanuma Vihari added gloss to India's domination with the bat.
For the host, Doug Bracewell, Blair Tickner and Theo Woerkorm took one wicket each.
