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India A captain Rishabh Pant tonked an unbeaten 64 off 81 to keep India in hunt in the first unofficial Test against South Africa A at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.
Rishabh Pant comes to India A's rescue with sturdy fifty
Despite India A's precarious position, the team was held together by an unbeaten fifty from skipper Rishabh Pant on the penultimate day of the four-day match against South Africa A. Mixing impudence with patience, and capitalizing on a bit of fortune, Pant scored a crucial 64 runs off 81 balls, featuring eight fours and two sixes. This effort lifted India A to 119 for four by stumps, though they still require another 156 runs to reach the target of 275. Pant, alongside Ayush Badoni (0*), will need to play a pivotal role on the final day to guide the team to victory.
The necessity of Pant's fighting innings arose after the South Africa A bowlers tore through the Indian top order. Chasing 275, India A quickly collapsed to 32 for three, losing Ayush Mhatre, Sai Sudharsan, and Devdutt Padikkal. Mhatre was bowled by Tshepo Moreki, who also trapped Sudharsan (whose 38-ball struggle ended with an LBW decision) before Okuhle Cele breached the defense of Devdutt Padikkal. Pant's arrival, however, stabilized the innings. He partnered with Rajat Patidar (28) for a gritty fourth-wicket stand of 77 runs, facing the South African pacers' aggressive pace and bounce with characteristic gusto. He counter-attacked by pulling fast bowler Okuhle Cele and carting off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen for a six over the covers.
Earlier in the day, the South African team, who had started on 30 for no loss, were bowled out for 199 in their second innings, setting up the challenging chase for the home side. The stage is now set for a tense final day, with the outcome of the match resting heavily on the shoulders of the Indian captain.
Rishabh Pant's innings was marked by more than just defense; he actively sought to stamp his authority on the game and bring India A back into contention. His proactive approach was not without fortune; when he attempted his characteristic "no-look loop shot," Okuhle Cele dropped a sitter at fine leg off the bowling of left-arm pacer Tiaan Van Vuuren. Pant was on 46 at that point and soon capitalized on the reprieve, bringing up a creditable fifty off just 65 balls with a boundary through the covers off spinner Prenelan Subrayen. As the innings wore on, Pant needed treatment for what appeared to be cramps, highlighting the physical toll of his high-pressure knock.
Tanush Kotian shines with another four-fer
Meanwhile, Pant's partner, Rajat Patidar, struggled significantly against the pace and bounce of the South African quicks. Patidar was fortunate to survive an early chance when he edged Cele on seven, only for Jordan Hermann to spill the catch at second slip. Despite surviving a couple of subsequent vociferous leg before appeals, the right-hander managed to settle and eventually opened up to play some delightful cover drives. Unfortunately, all his hard work was undone when he attempted an ill-advised upper-cut off Van Vuuren, only succeeding in finding the gloves of wicketkeeper Rivaldo Moonsamy. Pant's visible disappointment with Patidar's faulty shot selection underscored the critical nature of the partnership and the challenge now facing the India A side.
While the South African bowlers had performed with heart and intensity, their batsmen were notably profligate on the day, squandering a significant opportunity to bat India A out of the match. Starting the day comfortably at 30 for no loss, the visitors suffered a dramatic collapse, losing six wickets in the first session alone to find themselves reeling at 128 for six. The principal beneficiaries of the South African batsmen's needless aggression were the Indian bowlers, led by off-spinner Tanush Kotian (4/26) and pacer Anshul Kamboj (3/39).
South African collapse was triggered by reckless shot selection. Zubayr Hamza began the day with a flourish, hitting five boundaries in a single over, including delightful flicks and a cover drive off pacer Gurnoor Brar, but his aggressive stint ended tamely when he was bowled trying to poke at a delivery from Manav Suthar. Captain Marques Ackerman's eagerness to play the reverse sweep proved fatal, as he was bowled off a full delivery from Kotian. With the score at a desperate 135 for seven, South Africa's lead stood at a fragile 210 runs. However, the tail-enders showed more resolve, chancing their arms effectively to add a crucial 64 runs for the final three wickets, ultimately stretching the total and giving their side a much stronger chance to fight for a victory.
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