Bengaluru: India ‘A’ found themselves in a tight spot, needing 103 runs with five wickets remaining and ample time on the final day of their first four-day game against South Africa ‘A’. The Proteas ‘A’ side, however, was determined not to yield easily.
The match took a dramatic turn when skipper Rishabh Pant, who had played a magnificent innings, was dismissed for 90. Following this, Ayush Badoni (34) also fell, leaving India ‘A’ at 195/6 while chasing 275. South Africa ‘A’ intensified their efforts, leading to a period of intense back-and-forth action.
Ultimately, it was a counterattacking eighth-wicket stand of 62 runs (off 86 balls) between Anshul Kamboj (37 not out) and Manav Suthar (20 not out) that secured a hard-fought three-wicket victory for the home side. In a fitting conclusion to an exciting contest at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, Suthar confidently stepped out and lofted spinner Prenelan Subrayen over mid-on for a boundary, signaling India ‘A”s triumph.
Earlier in the day, Pant, resuming from his overnight score of 69, aggressively targeted the South Africa ‘A’ bowlers from the outset. He dispatched a delivery for a maximum through covers and found the gap between slips and gully for a boundary. Partnering with Badoni, Pant, making his return after a three-month injury layoff, expertly rotated the strike and kept the opposition on their toes.
Inspired by his captain, Badoni also played some textbook shots that reached the boundary ropes, suggesting an early finish. However, after narrowly surviving a close call in the 48th over, Pant perished in the very next. He had just smashed Tiaan van Vuuren for a boundary and a six and was rapidly approaching a century when he miscued a pull shot, and Lesego Senokwane took a sharp catch at gully.
Badoni, then joined by Tanush Kotian, maintained a positive intent in the chase until he pulled a van Vuuren delivery straight to Tshepo Moreki at deep square leg. The Indian side briefly faltered when Kotian, who contributed 23 runs, also departed. However, Suthar and Kamboj held their nerve, ensuring no further slip-ups. The duo avoided excessive defensiveness, at times even taking risks, but their efforts were enough to guide the hosts home with more than a session to spare.
This two-match red-ball series serves as a crucial precursor to the upcoming two Test matches between India and South Africa, starting in Kolkata on November 14. A fresh-look India ‘A’ team will compete in the second match, beginning on November 6, with Pant expected to be joined by key players like KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Dhruv Jurel, and Akash Deep.
Brief scores: South Africa ‘A’: 309 & 199 lost to India ‘A’ 234 & 277/7 in 73.1 overs (Rajat Patidar 28, Rishabh Pant 90, Ayush Badoni 34, Anshul Kamboj 37 n.o.; Tshepo Moreki 2-12, Tiaan van Vuuren 3-56).