Two early breakthroughs from fast bowler Lungi Ngidi were not enough to prevent South Africa A from slipping to a seven-wicket defeat to India.
India A needed just under an hour to wrap up victory in Trivandrum on Thursday.
The hosts won by seven wickets at the Greenfield International Stadium where they first dismissed the tourists for 186 in their second innings and then raced to their 48-run target in 9.4 overs.
It meant that they take a 1-0 lead in the two-game series, which now moves on to Mysore for the second Test starting next week. The result in this match was hardly in doubt after the home side dominated throughout, first bowling out SA A for 164 and then replying with 303.
Despite rain for most of day three, the visitors were still in trouble when they resumed on the final morning at 179 for nine, with the last man to fall being Lutho Sipamla for eight – India’s senior Test seamer Shardul Thakur striking to end with figures of two for 31. Shahbaz Nadeem was the pick of the bunch with his three for 21.
Lungi Ngidi (2/22) then struck twice, first bowling captain Shubman Gill for five and then taking out Ankit Bawne (6), to leave the score on 24 for two.
Srikar Bharat (5) was the other man dismissed, out to the spin of Dane Piedt (1/26), but Ricky Bhui (20) and Shivam Dube (12) carried their side to a comfortable win.
Photo: Gallo Images
