Bengaluru, Nov 8 (UNI) India A asserted total dominance on Day 3 of the second unofficial Test against South Africa A at the Centre of Excellence Ground 1, setting the visitors a daunting 417-run target before stumps were drawn with South Africa A 25 for no loss here on Saturday.
The day belonged to Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant. Jurel, who had rescued India A in the first innings with a century, produced another masterclass — an unbeaten 127 — to back up his 116 from the first innings. His twin tons have turned this game decisively India A’s way.
Pant, meanwhile, shrugged off multiple blows to make a courageous 65, his second innings since returning from injury, further solidifying his match fitness and confidence ahead of his potential Test recall.
India A began the day with KL Rahul and nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav at the crease. Okhule Cele struck early, cleaning up Rahul with a sharp nip-backer for 30, reducing India A to 84 for 4. Soon after, Kuldeep fell cheaply, and Pant — who came out looking positive — endured a painful passage.
In the span of 20 minutes, Pant was struck thrice by Migael Moreki: once on the helmet, once on the elbow, and then on the box. He bravely continued before finally retiring hurt on 17, visibly in pain, forcing the physio to intervene. India A were wobbling at 123 for 5 at that stage, with South Africa A sensing an opening.
With Pant off the field, Jurel and Harsh Dubey stitched together a crucial 184-run stand for the sixth wicket. Jurel showcased remarkable calm under pressure, surviving a freak moment when an inside edge rolled onto the stumps but failed to dislodge the bails, a moment reminiscent of Mohammed Siraj’s Lord’s escape earlier this year.
Dubey, too, had luck on his side early on but capitalized superbly, bringing up his fifty off 76 balls and later reaching 84. Together, they took India A’s lead past 300 by tea and to 334 soon after, effectively batting South Africa A out of the contest.
Jurel reached his fifth first-class century — and second of the match — with a flick through midwicket off Tiaan van Vuuren. He switched gears after the milestone, adding 28 runs in quick time with a flurry of boundaries.
Pant, after receiving treatment, returned to bat again and counterattacked immediately. He smashed Simmonds for consecutive sixes to reach his 48-ball half-century, showing no discomfort from earlier blows. His aggression pushed India A’s lead beyond 400 before he top-edged a slog-sweep to the wicketkeeper, falling for 65.
Once Pant fell, he declared India A’s innings at 382 for 7, setting South Africa A a massive 417-run target with a little over an hour’s play left in the day.
South Africa A openers Lesego Senokwane and Jordan Hermann survived 11 tense overs against the new ball under fading light.
Siraj bowled a fiery spell (6-2-10-0), repeatedly beating Senokwane’s edge and drawing three loud appeals for caught behind — all rightly turned down by umpire Akshay Totare. Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep also kept it tight, but the visitors hung on to finish 25 without loss.
South Africa A still need 392 runs to win with all wickets intact, but the mountain looks insurmountable against an Indian attack led by Siraj, Prasidh and Kuldeep Yadav on a pitch showing variable bounce and turn.
Scores:
India A: 255 & 382/7 declared (Jurel 127*, Dubey 84, Pant 65; Cele 2/45, Moreki 2/56)
South Africa A: 221 & 25/0 (Senokwane 12*, Hermann 13*)
At stumps, Day 3:
South Africa A need 392 runs to win with 10 wickets in hand.
