India 'A' in trouble after Proteas set 444 for victory

India 'A' 73 for 2 at stumps in second innings; need another 371 runs on final day to win the match.

A distinct lack of application by their batsmen saw India ‘A’ staring at defeat at the end of a rain-hit third day in the first unofficial 'Test' against South Africa 'A', in Wayanad, on Thursday.

Needing 392 runs to avoid the follow-on, after the South Africans posted a mammoth 542 in their first innings, the hosts were shot out for a meagre 204 in 66.3 overs in their first essay, conceding a huge lead of 338 runs.

Off-spinner Dane Piedt (5-88) was the visitors’ wrecker-in-chief. He was a far better bowler than the Indian duo of Axar Patel and Jayant Yadav.

South Africa then decided against enforcing the follow-on and scored 105 for 1 before declaring and setting India a victory target of 444.

In reply, the Indians were 73 for 2 at stumps; they need another 371 runs on the final day to win the match.

As of now, an India ‘A’ victory looks unlikely, but it will be interesting to see whether the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Abhinav Mukund and Karun Nair can at least earn a draw.

At close of play, Mukund was batting on 32 in the company of skipper Rayudu (13).

Opener Jiwanjot Singh (1) was run-out while Ankush Bains (27) hit five boundaries before being done in by left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.

It was the third consecutive day where the South Africans completely dominated as the Indian first innings turned out to be a total disaster.

Starting the day on 122 for 3, the remaining seven wickets fell for a mere 82 runs.

Karun Nair (9) was the first to go, beaten by a flighted off-break from Piedt and adjudged leg before.

All-rounder Vijay Shankar (3) was done in by sheer pace from Dane Paterson and also adjudged leg before.

Skipper Rayudu, who scored 46, inclusive of seven boundaries, held one end up but saw his teammates departed one after another at the other end.

Bains (5) was caught by Quinton de Kock off Piedt's bowling.

Finally, Rayudu also ran out of patience. Trying to hook Maharaj to complete his fifty he holed out in the deep.

Piedt finally got his coveted five-for when Axar offered a simple return catch.

India's innings ended in 66.3 overs after which South Africa gave their bowlers some respite to help themselves post a massive victory target.

Scorecard

South Africa 'A' (1st innings): 542

India 'A' (1st innings): (overnight 122/3)

J Singh b Piedt 22

A Mukund b Piedt 38

S Iyer b Parnell 49

A Rayudu c Paterson b Maharaj 46

K Nair lbw b Piedt 9

V Shankar lbw b Paterson 3

A Bains c de Kock b Piedt 5

A Patel c and b Piedt 12

J Yadav c de Bruyn b Maharaj 1

A Mithun run out 0

I Pandey not out 13

Extras: (B-4, LB-2) 6

Total: (all out in 66.3 overs) 204

Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-88, 3-122, 4-147, 5-164, 6-177, 7-179, 8-191, 9-191.

Bowling: W Parnell 16-5-44-1, D Paterson 16-3-56-1, D Piedt 24-3-88-5, K Maharaj 10.3-4-13-2.

South Africa A (2nd innings):

R Hendricks b Patel 61

S van Zyl not out 38

T de Bruyn not out 5

Extras: (B-1) 1

Total: (for one wicket decl; 35 overs) 105

Fall of wickets: 1-95

Bowling: A Mithun 3-1-20-0, AR Patel 15-5-37-1, J Yadav 12-4-25-0, I Pandey 2-0-10-0, K Nair 3-0-12-0.

India 'A; (2nd innings): (target: 444 runs)

J Singh run out 1

A Mukund not out 32

A Bains b Maharaj 27

A Rayudu batting 13

Total: (for two wickets, in 28 overs) 73

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-43

Bowling: W Parnell 3-0-19-0, D Paterson 4-0-12-0, K Maharaj 11-5-24-1, D Piedt 10-5-18-0.