Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna combined to put India A in driver's seat on Day 2 of the second unofficial Test against SOuth Africa A. India A were placed at 78/3 with a a commanding overall lead of 112 runs by the end of Day 2. KL Rahul (26*) and Kuldeep Yadav (0*) remained unscathed on the crease when the stumps were drawn.
India A pacers peg back South Africa A
India A began the second day's play having been bundled out for a modest 255 on Day One. As the South African side came out to bat, India's pacers struck immediately, reducing the visitors to a disastrous 12/3. Akash Deep was particularly destructive, claiming the wicket of visitors' skipper Temba Bavuma for a golden duck.
Ackerman's lone counter-attacking century
Despite the early collapse, SA A captain MJ Ackerman launched a stunning counter-attack, keeping his side's hopes alive. He brought up a remarkable century in just 99 balls, fearlessly taking on the Indian bowlers. Ackerman continued to fight a lone battle even as wickets fell around him, eventually being the ninth wicket to fall, dismissed by spinner Harsh Dubey. He finished with a commendable 134 scored from only 118 balls, an innings that included 17 fours and five sixes.
Ackerman's brilliance was not enough, as his side was bundled out for 221 runs. Outside of his score, only opener Jordan Hermann (26) and Prenelan Subrayen (20) managed to cross the 20-run mark, leaving their team to concede a 34-run first-innings lead. Prasidh Krishna (3/35) was the leading wicket-taker, while Akash Deep (2/28) and Mohammed Siraj (2/61) ensured the pacers claimed the lion's share of the wickets. Kuldeep Yadav and Harsh Dubey were the only spinners to take a wicket, bagging one each.
India A's top order falters in second innings
In their second innings, India 'A's top-order batters failed to capitalize on their 34-run lead. Opener Abhimanyu Easwaran was dismissed for a duck, which unfortunately meant he registered a 'pair' (a duck in both innings) for the match. Both Sai Sudharsan (23) and Devdutt Padikkal (24) got promising starts with multiple boundaries but fumbled and were dismissed, reducing India to 78/3. It was left to KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav to see the team to the end of the day's play without any further damage.
Jurel's First-Innings Century Saved India A
This second-innings wobble followed a first innings that was only respectable due to a magnificent counter-attack from Dhruv Jurel. Earlier in the match, after South Africa A had won the toss and put India A in to bat, wickets fell continuously. Jurel's brilliant 132 from 175 balls, featuring 12 fours and four sixes, was the highlight. He received some support from skipper Rishabh Pant (24) and a stubborn Kuldeep (20), which was crucial in guiding India A to their total of 255.
For the South Africa A side, Tiaan van Vuuren was the standout bowler during that first innings. He was the chief destroyer for the visitors, finishing as their leading wicket-taker with impressive figures of 4/52.