South Africa A bowlers tilted the course of the second unofficial Test in favour of their team as India A were set a target of 307 on the third day at Pretoria. At stumps, the visitors were three for one, having lost opener Murali Vijay.
On the third day, India A lost five wickets, including the last four of their first innings. Ambati Rayudu (29) got out to Simon Harmer after adding 15 to his overnight score. Ishwar Pandey and Siddharth Kaul followed in quick succession; both registered ducks.
Parvez Rasool remained unbeaten on 32 to ensure India breached the 200-run mark. Harmer, the off-spinner, finished with 4/74, while left-arm pacer Beuran Hendricks claimed a five-for, with figures of 5/36. India A were dismissed for 201, giving South Africa a first-innings lead of 140 runs.
In their second essay, the South African openers, Reeza Hendricks (20) and Dean Elgar (62) notched up a 53-run partnership, albeit a slow one. Left-arm spinner, Shahbaz Nadeem struck in successive overs, getting rid of Hendricks and Rilee Russouw (0). Elgar then joined hands with Temba Bavuna (27) to take the hosts past 100, before Rasool bowled Elgar out. Captain Justin Ontong, then stepped out at the crease and knocked a quick 35 off 32 balls, including four fours and a six. The declaration came soon after Ontong and Bavuna were sent back to the hut. Nadeem finished with 3/56.
India A were unable to end the day unscathed as Vijay continued his horror series, getting bowled for a duck by Beuran Hendricks in the first over. With 13 deliveries to go for stumps, Nadeem walked in as the nightwatchman and returned unbeaten with Cheteshwar Pujara (2).
India A need another 304 runs to take the series 2-0, while South Africa can draw level by bagging nine more wickets.
Brief scores:
Day 1 – SA A 1st innings 231/6 in 81.3 overs (Harmer 68*; Rasool 2/39)
Day 2 – SA A 1st innings 341 all-out in 121 overs (Harmer 96; Pandey 3/67); India A 1st innings 145/6 in 51.3 overs (Pujara 54; Hendericks 3/28)
Day 3 – India A 1st innings 201 all-out in 70.1 overs (Pujara 54; Hendricks 5/36, Harmer 4/74); South Africa A 2nd innings 166/5 decl in 63 overs (Elgar 62; Nadeem 56/3); India A 2nd innings 3/1 in 4 overs (Hendricks 0/1)
