Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Rohit, Raina ton put India in commanding position

August 18, 2013 22:15 IST

Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina joined the run feast with superb centuries as India A posted a mammoth 582 for nine against South Africa A to take command of the first unofficial Test in Rustenburg on Sunday.

Sharma scored 119 while Raina blasted 135 as the two overnight batsmen ripped apart the home bowling attack on the second day of the match.

India skipper Cheteshwar Pujara had struck 137 on Saturday to put his side in a strong position.

Sharma and Raina shared a 106-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which was broken when the former was caught by Temba Bavuma off JP Duminy at the fag end of the morning session.

India had resumed the innings at 281 for three and declared after rattling up a huge 582 for nine as Proteas failed to break the last-wicket stand between Shahbaz Nadeem (46) and Jaydev Unadkat (31).

The two batsmen added 82 runs for the last wicket.

Suresh RainaSouth Africa were 20 for one in reply as Unadkat had opener Reeza Hendricks (10) caught behind.

Dean Elgar and Simon Harmer were at the crease when stumps were drawn for the day.

Rohit added another 49 runs to his overnight score before being dismissed, but not before tormenting Proteas bowlers with 14 boundaries and two sixes.

It was Duminy who got the first breakthrough of the day when he had Rohit caught at the short leg by Temba Bavuma.

Joined by Ajinkya Rahane (10) in the middle, Raina continued to play his strokes, even as the the former got out cheaply when Duminy added another wicket to his kitty.

Duminy struck once again to get rid of Wriddhiman Shah (1) as India were reduced to 418 for six from 376 for four.

But that did not deter Raina from scoring at brisk pace. He brought up his ton in the 141st over.

Ishwar Pandey then combined well with Raina after Duminy's successive strikes as the duo continued to torment home bowlers.

The duo added 79-runs for the seventh wicket. The partnership was broken in the third session of the day when Wayne Parnell castled Raina.

The left-hander's 135-run knock came off 177 balls with 14 fours and three sixes.

Pranell then got rid of Pandey and while Elgar removed Mohammed Shami (2).

However, Shahbaz and Unadkat frustrated the hosts bowlers with their rearguard action. They batted about 15 overs to add 82 runs to India's total.

Scorecard

India A 1st innings (Overnight 281/3)

Shikhar Dhawan c Hendricks b Harmer 11

Murali Vijay c Harmer b Birch 44

Cheteshwar Pujara b Parnell 137

Rohit Sharma c Bavuma b Duminy 119

Suresh Raina b Parnell 135

Ajinkya Rahane c Rossouw b Duminy 10

Wriddhiman Saha c Bavuma b Duminy 1

Ishwar Pandey b Parnell 35

Mohammed Shami c Bavuma b Elgar 2

Jaydev Unadkat not out 31

Shahbaz Nadeem not out 46

Extras (b-7, lb-2, nb-2) 11

Total (For 9 wickets dec in 163 overs) 582

Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-94, 3-270, 4-376, 5-412, 6-418, 7-497, 8-500, 9-500.

Bowling: K Abbott 30-11-86-0, W Parnell 33-12-89-3, A Birch 33-8-100-1, S Harmer 37-3-155-1, JP Duminy 19-7-80-3, J Ontong 3-0-16-0, D Elgar 8-0-47-1.

South Africa A 1st innings 

Reeza Hendricks c Saha b Unadkat 10

Dean Elgar batting 9

Simon Harmer batting 1

Total (For 1 wicket in 9 overs) 20

Fall of wickets: 1-18

Bowling: J Unadkar 5-1-12-1, M Shami 2-1-3-0, S Nadeem 2-1-5-0 

Image: Suresh Raina

Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Reuters