Bengaluru, Nov 6 (UNI) Dhruv Jurel’s masterful unbeaten 132 anchored India A to a total of 255 all-out on day one of the second Unofficial Test against South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 here today.
Jurel’s innings, filled with elegant boundaries and towering sixes, kept India A competitive after early wickets threatened to derail the hosts’ innings.
South Africa A, having won the toss, chose to bowl and struck early. KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran fell cheaply for 19 and 0 respectively, while Sai Sudharsan (17) was trapped LBW by Prenelan Subrayen.
Devdutt Padikkal managed just 5 before being caught by Connor Esterhuizen off Tiaan van Vuuren, and Rishabh Pant provided brief resistance with a 24-ball 24 that included a six before being caught by Marques Ackerman off Tsepho Moreki.
Jurel’s patient innings featured 4 sixes and 12 boundaries, including sixes off Subrayen, and boundaries off van Vuuren and Okuhle Cele, allowing India A to post a competitive total despite the fall of wickets at regular intervals.
Other contributors included Harsh Dubey (14), Kuldeep Yadav (20), and Mohammed Siraj (15), while Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna fell for ducks. Kuldeep Yadav was run out by Temba Bavuma and Moreki, and Krishna was the last wicket to fall, caught and bowled by van Vuuren.
Van Vuuren was the most successful bowler for South Africa A with four wickets for 52 runs, while Prenelan Subrayen and Tshepo Moreki claimed two wickets each, and Okuhle Cele added one more.
India A’s innings lasted 77.1 overs, with nine extras and a run rate of 3.3 per over.
South Africa A will begin their first innings tomorrow, aiming to build a lead against a side anchored by Jurel’s resilient batting.
India A squad: KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Harsh Dubey, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
South Africa A squad: Jordan Hermann, Lesego Senokwane, Temba Bavuma, Zubayr Hamza, Marques Ackerman (c), Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Tiaan van Vuuren, Kyle Simmonds, Prenelan Subrayen, Tshepo Moreki, Okuhle Cele.
