As expected, South Africa A drew the second unofficial Test against India, losing the series 1-0.
Rain on two of the four days had curtailed the match, with India A batting just 51 overs of their second innings on the final day, holding a lead 207 with one session remaining.
Resuming on 294-7, the South African tail had little to offer against the pace of Mohammed Siraj and Ankit Rajpoot, while Senuran Muthusamy did his best to take the strike and contribute what he could. He moved on from 23 overnight to 35 when the last wicket fell. Only 11 runs had come from the tail and South Africa had a deficit of 26.
Still, there may have been a flicker of hope when Duanne Olivier ― who put his team back in the match with a brilliant five-wicket spell early on day two ― took two wickets in India A’s second innings with just 14 runs on the board. But Shreyas Iyer put a stop to that with a stand of 40 with Mayank Agarwal and a 86 with Ankit Bawne. Muthusamy’s spin saw off both Agarwal (28) and Iyer (65), but Bawne maintained the momentum. He moved on to 64 at tea, whereupon the captains shook hands and withdrew from the field of battle.
The A team now undergoes a radical transformation for the quadrangular one-day series against India A and B and a powerful Australia A team led by Travis Head.
South Africa A squad: Khaya Zondo (Dolphins, capt), Temba Bavuma (Highveld Lions), Farhaan Behardien (Titans), Gihahn Cloete (Warriors), Theunis de Bruyn (Multiply Titans), Robbie Frylinck (Dolphins), Beuran Hendricks (Highveld Lions), Sisanda Magala (Warriors), Pieter Malan (Cape Cobras), Senuran Muthusamy (Dolphins), Dane Paterson (Cape Cobras), Rudi Second (Knights), Dwaine Pretorius (Highveld Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi (Titans), Malusi Siboto (Highveld Lions).
Australia A: Travis Head (capt), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Joel Paris, Matthew Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitch Swepson, Chris Tremain, Jack Wildermuth
SA A fixtures: 17 Aug: vs India B; 19: vs Australia A; 21: vs India A; 23: vs India B; 25: vs Australia A; 27: vs India A; 29: Quad-series final.
