The second unofficial Test between India A and South Africa A has reached a critical juncture on Day 4, with South Africa A facing an uphill battle against a formidable India A side. The match is being held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
India A set a massive target of 417 runs for South Africa A to win. At the end of Day 3, South Africa A were 25/0, with Jordan Hermann (15) and Lesego Senokwane (9) at the crease.
India A's Dominance
India A's strong position in the match is attributed to a combination of factors, including a solid batting performance led by Dhruv Jurel and a disciplined bowling attack. Jurel's back-to-back centuries have been instrumental in India A's dominance. In the first innings, India A were bowled out for 255. In their second innings, India A declared at 382/7, extending their lead to 416 runs.
South Africa A's Challenges
South Africa A face a daunting task on the final day. They need to score 392 runs to win. Their top order struggled against the Indian pacers, who demonstrated excellent control and utilized the bounce effectively. Marques Ackerman played a brilliant counterattacking innings, scoring 134 runs, but received limited support from the other batsmen.
Day 3 Highlights
On Day 3, Dhruv Jurel's magnificent counter-attack was the highlight of India A's batting performance. He scored 132 runs off 175 balls, including 12 fours and four sixes. Rishabh Pant also contributed with a quickfire 24. Tiaan van Vuuren was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa A, taking 4 wickets for 52 runs.
Earlier Innings
In the first innings, South Africa A won the toss and elected to field. India A were eventually bowled out for 255. South Africa A were then bowled out for 221, conceding a 34-run first-innings deficit. Marques Ackerman's century was the standout performance for South Africa A in their first innings.
Focus on Wickets
India A will be aiming to take early wickets on Day 4 to put South Africa A under further pressure. The pace trio of Prasidh Krishna, Mohammad Siraj, and Akash Deep will be key to India A's chances of securing a victory.
Match can be Streamed on JioHotstar
The match is not being broadcasted on TV but is available for live streaming on the JioHotstar app and website.
