Australia A 263 and 31 for 1 need 322 more runs to beat New Zealand A 147 and 468 (Kuggeleijn 101, Solia 91, Abbas 55, Bruce 51, Perry 4-77, Steketee 4-100)
Kuggeleijn’s hundred, his fourth in first-class cricket, included 12 fours and four sixes – one a crunching lofted straight drive off Jordan Buckingham with what resembled a golf swing – and it was the last of them, pulled over deep midwicket off Mitchell Swepson, which took him to three figures after No. 11 Jacob Duffy had survived to give him the chance.
New Zealand A’s lead had been 185 when he walked in with the home side hoping to keep the chase within far lower proportions than it eventually became. Kuggeleijn dominated the scoring, adding 91 for the eighth wicket with Brett Randell.
Australia A lost Tim Ward, edging a cut shot to the keeper, before bad light brought an early close with Cameron Bancroft and Caleb Jewell having weathered some testing bowling.
It was a tough innings for Swepson who finished with 0 for 119 from 27 overs while Buckingham, who had been impressive over the first two days, came in for some tap when Kuggeleijn got going.
When Perry removed Josh Clarkson and Cam Fletcher in quick succession the contest was very evening poised but the visitors then took charge.