After their bowlers performed a good job of restricting South Africa A to 309, India A batsmen came up with a forgettable outing on Day 2 of their four-day fixture at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. As it happened against Australia A few weeks ago, India A need to conjure up some inspiration in the third and fourth innings after being bowled out for 234 in the first essay on Friday. Off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen (5/61) was at the thick of action as India A batsmen paid the price for their own indecisiveness to concede a lead of 75.
In response to South Africa’s total, India A openers — Ayush Mhatre and B Sai Sudharsan — put on 90 runs for the fist wicket with the former dictating the proceedings. Part of India U-19 side, Mhatre, playing his first India A outing, was in his usual aggressive element at the start. With the left-hander off to a cautious start, the Mumbai youngster provided spark at the top. A straight drive off pacer Okuhle Cele and a cover-drive off Subrayen underlining his strong technical foundation. “My mindset is clear — just play your natural game. I have to hit the ball, if it is in my range, and I also watch for the game situation and play accordingly. I am playing club cricket in Mumbai from the age of 12 and it helped me to set a good mindset and control on my mind,” said Mhatre after the day’s play.
Second session blues
With Mhatre in full-flow, India A headed to lunch at 71 for no loss. With that solid zoo start, one expected India to grow from strength-to-strength. Instead, all the hard work was undone in the second session, where they lost five wickets for 92 runs to head to take tea at 163/5, starting with the dismissal of Mhatre for 65.
Soon, Devdutt Padikkal brought up a tame dismissal, chipping one to Cele at short mid-wicket off Subrayen. Next to go was Sai Sudharsan. His 94-ball 38 was filled with atypical struggle for timing and a couple of close shaves, including a run out. Tshepo Moreki ended his struggle by getting one nick to the wicketkeeper.
The dismissal brought Rishabh Pant and Rajat Patidar to the crease — two batsmen who are known to play their shots. Having put up an impressive show behind the stumps in his return to competitive cricket, Pant started with a big heave against Moraki which failed to make any contact. He opened the account with a four off Subrayen before pulling Moraki for a boundary behind square. But his stay lasted all of 20 deliveries as he was caught in two minds to cut or leave the ball and eventually lobbed to gully.
Patidar, who has been amongst runs in Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy, showed caution at the start, but went for an expansive drive without even reaching the ball and only to be bowled by the off-spinner.
Subrayen, who bowled 22 unchanged overs across three sessions, was rewarded with a fifer. “It was a good collective bowling effort. I think there was just input from everyone within our bowling lineup. Whenever they got the ball in their hand, we always put our best foot forward. But yeah, definitely to get some wickets in India is a nice feeling,” said Subrayen, who was part of South Africa squad during their recent tour to Pakistan.
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Once the top-order perished, Delhi batsman Ayush Badoni’s 47-ball 38 helped India cut the lead below the 100-run mark.
Brief scores: South Africa A 309 (Tanush Kotian 4/83) & 30/0 vs India A 234 (Ayush Mhatre 65, Ayush Badoni 38; Prenelan Subrayen 5/61).
