Batsmen continue to hold sway in SA ‘A’s warm-up match against the Indian Board President’s XI.
It was another difficult outing for the bowlers on day two of the three-day warm-up encounter between the Indian Board President’s XI and South Africa ‘A’ in Bengaluru on Tuesday. With only four wickets falling in unfavourable bowling conditions, the batsmen from the respective teams scored at a healthy rate as the hosts ended on 201/2 after 45 overs in their first innings.
With overnight batsman Zubayr Hamza (104) retiring, the visitors resumed the day’s action on 389/2 as Senuran Muthusamy joined Rassie van der Dussen at the crease. The duo could only add a further seven runs before Van der Dussen was dismissed for 39 (68 balls, six fours).
That dismissal brought wicket-keeper batsman Rudi Second out to the middle. The right-hander combined with Muthusamy to record a 77-run partnership for the sixth wicket, before the latter became the fourth wicket to fall, trapped LBW on 31 (69 balls, four fours) as the tourists declared on a daunting 473/4 after 115.1 overs. Second returned unbeaten on 44 (73 balls, seven fours).
Jalaj Saxena (2/54), Dharmendrasinh Jajeda (1/65) and Atit Sheth (1/69) were the pick of the bowlers for the home side.
It was more hard work for the bowlers in the hosts’ innings as openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sanjay Ramaswamy put on a 59-run partnership before it was broken by Malusi Siboto (1/13) who removed Easwaran for 33 (48 balls, six fours).
Ramaswamy forged ahead and went on to reach his eighth first-class 50. Partnered up with Dhruv Shorey, the duo absorbed the pressure, bringing up a 100-run partnership for the second wicket. Shorey also recorded his eighth half-century in the process. Ramaswamy looked to be heading towards a deserved century before the experienced Shaun von Berg (1/37) finally broke the deadlock, dismissing him 13 runs short of his ton (87 off 113 deliveries, 17 fours, one six).
Shorey (67*) and Ricky Bhui (three*) managed to guide their side to stumps without a further loss of wickets, as they look to continue to eat away at the 272-run lead.
SA A squad (to play in four-day series against India A)
- Khaya Zondo (Dolphins), capt
- Sarel Erwee (Dolphins)
- Zubayr Hamza (Cape Cobras)
- Beuran Hendricks (Lions)
- Pieter Malan (Cape Cobras)
- Senuran Muthusamy (Dolphins)
- Mthiwekhaya Nabe (Cape Cobras)
- Anrich Nortje (Warriors)
- Duanne Olivier (Knights)
- Dane Piedt (Cape Cobras)
- Dwaine Pretorius (Highveld Lions)
- Rudi Second (Knights)
- Rassie van der Dussen (Highveld Lions)
- Malusi Siboto (Highveld Lions)
- Shaun von Berg (Titans)
SA A Tour to India Itinerary 2018
Four-Day Test Series
July 30-August 1: three-day practice match, Bangaluru
August 4-7: 1st four-day Test match v India A, Bangaluru
August 10-13: 2nd four-day Test match v India A, Bangaluru
Photo: Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP/Getty Images
