India-A captain Rishabh Pant delivered a breathtaking batting masterclass on a challenging pitch, crafting an unbeaten 64 runs off just 81 balls (featuring 8 fours and 2 sixes). His sensational knock single-handedly rescued his team from an early collapse on the penultimate day of their inaugural multi-day match against South Africa-A, played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Grounds in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Chasing a daunting target of 275 for victory, India-A found themselves in immediate peril as South African pacers Tshepo Moreki and Okuhle Cele wreaked havoc, claiming three crucial wickets in rapid succession. Openers Sai Sudharsan and Ayush Mhatre visibly struggled against the new ball, with Mhatre unfortunately dragging a delivery onto his own stumps in only the third over.
The dismissal of Devdutt Padikkal, who also chopped onto his stumps, left the Indian side reeling at a dismal 19 for two by tea. The situation worsened after the break when Sai Sudharsan was trapped plumb in front of the wicket by Moreki, plunging India-A into a precarious position of 32 for three.
It was at this critical juncture that Rishabh Pant strode to the crease, and his arrival ignited a fierce counter-attack. Right from his first ball, Pant unleashed a spectacular repertoire of strokes: powerful drives found the boundary, ferocious pulls sent the ball rocketing, and towering sixes soared off the bowling of off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen. He showed no mercy to the pacers either, dispatching them with equal disdain. Providing crucial support at the other end was Rajat Patidar, whose calm and well-timed strokes complemented Pant’s aggression perfectly. Together, this dynamic duo steadily clawed back the momentum, swinging the game in India-A’s favor.
However, a twist in the tale emerged just before stumps. Patidar, attempting a daring ramp shot off a short delivery, could only manage a faint edge, which was cleanly taken by the keeper. This unfortunate dismissal brought an end to their vital 87-run third-wicket partnership, leaving India-A to conclude the day at 119 for four, with Pant still at the crease.
Earlier in the day, medium-pacer Gurnoor Brar had given India-A an excellent start, snagging the wicket of opener Jordan Hermann at mid-wicket in the very first over of the morning session. South Africa-A’s Zubayr Hamza, however, launched a spirited counter-attack, hammering five boundaries off Brar in a single over. But his aggressive display was cut short when left-arm spinner Manav Suthar skillfully broke their 54-run second-wicket partnership, clean-bowling Hamza.
Off-spinner Tanush Kotian then continued the good work, quickly dispatching both opener Lesogo Senokwane and Rubin Hermann. Pacer Anshul Kamboj also joined the wicket-taking spree, claiming Tiaan Van Vuuren and Rivaldo Moonsamy, which left the visiting South Africa-A side struggling at 135 for seven.
Despite the flurry of wickets, a resilient 42-run eighth-wicket partnership between Subrayen and Moreki extended South Africa-A’s lead past 250. However, Kotian eventually broke their resistance by dismissing both batsmen, and Brar sealed the innings by sending Okuhle Cele back to the pavilion, bowling out the visiting side for 199.
Match Summary: South Africa-A posted 309 in 91.2 overs & 199 in 48.1 overs (Tanush Kotian 4/26) vs India-A 234 & 119/4 in 39 overs (Rishabh Pant 64 batting).