After opener Jordon Hermann and Zubayr Hamza got South Africa A to a strong start, India A spinners made a roaring comeback on Day 1 of the first unofficial Test at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence on Thursday. Leading the charge for India with the ball was off-spinner Tanush Kotian, who took four wickets including that of Hermann for 71 to restrict South Africa to 299/9.
Ahead of the Freedom Series for the Gandhi-Mandela Trophy, South Africa A are featuring in a two-match series against India A in Bengaluru. Temba Bavuma, who led them to World Test Championship title earlier this year, is set to feature in the next match beginning November 6. With an eye on the Test series, India are being led by Rishabh Pant who is looking to regain lost touch having been out of action since picking up foot injury during the tour of England.
Winning the toss, India A put South Africa in and Anshul Kamboj straightaway got into the act, removing Lesego Senekwane in third over. Thereafter, Hermann and Hamza shared a 130-run stand for the second wicket as runs flowed in the first session for the visitors.
Although the pitch had some help for the seamers in the first session, the likes of Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed and Gurnoor Brar failed to make any further inroads with Kotian admitting later that India got the rewards after they attacked the stumps line in the second and third session.
“When we started bowling it was not helping that much. There was a bit of moisture, but it was slow. So they started on an attacking note. After that in lunch we had a plan that we will bowl stump lines, keep them tight as much as we can and try to give them less runs and get 2-3 wickets. So that happened and then we were on the top and then we tried to do the same thing and it helped us get nine wickets,” Kotian said at the end of play.
It was the dismissal of Hamza to Brar while attempting a ramp shot to be caught by Pant that saw the tide change through the course of the day. Hamza wasn’t happy with the decision and so was Hermann with the umpire’s LBW decision. But the other three top-order batters should have little grouse in their dismissals.
Opener Senokwane slashed pacer Kamboj to Ayush Mhatre at first slip, and Rivaldo Moonsamy edged left-arm spinner Manav Suthar (2/62) to Ayush Badoni at the cordon. Skipper Marques Ackermann uppishly flicked Kotian to Suthar inside the circle, as the Proteas lost 27 for three to slip to 197 for five.
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Cruise mode
However, until Hermann and Hamza were in the middle, South Africa were in cruise mode, and the three Indian pacers — Brar, Kamboj and Khaleel— were guilty of insipid spells despite some early assistance on the pitch.
Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan was added to India A squad at the eleventh hour after N Jagadeesan was ruled out of the fixture after injuring his hand in the training session on the eve of the match.
Brief scores: South Africa A 299/9 (Jordon Hermann 71, Zubayr Hamza 66, Rubin Hermann 54, Tiaan van Vuuren 46; Tanush Kotian 4/83) vs India A.
(With Agency inputs)
