India A made early inroads to restrict South Africa A to 164-7 on day two of the second four-day match at Willowmoore Park on Wednesday.
After day one in Benoni was abandoned due to a wet pitch, the visitors won the toss and opted to bowl first under overcast skies as the match finally got underway on the second morning.
There was light drizzle that further delayed the start by just under two hours, but when proceedings began Avesh Khan made merry with a return of 3-36 along with a wicket apiece for Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Navdeep Saini.
SA A openers Joshua Richards and Matthew Breetzke put on 17 before the former was caught behind for 13.
Captain Breetzke and Zubayr Hamza then combined to add a further 35 runs before the hosts lost two wickets in quick succession.
First Hamza was run out for 20, before Khaya Zondo was bowled by Khan three balls later for nought.
Proteas batsman Ryan Rickelton made six before he was caught behind off Khan.
Breetzke reached a top score of 36 when he fell to Patel with the score on 106-5.
Sinethemba Qeshile provided some much needed respite with a 77-ball 34 before he became Khan’s third scalp of the innings. Beyers Swanepoel fell soon after to Sundar for 10.
Bjorn Fortuin (12*) and Duanne Olivier (17*) then guided the home side to the close of play without any further trouble.
Photo: Charle Lombard/Gallo Images
