South Africa A steals the show on day two – 2nd unofficial Test vs. India A

India A 6-145 (Cheteshwar Pujara 54, Ajinkya Rahane 36, Beuran Hendricks 3-28) trails South Africa A 341 (Simon Harmer 96, Wayne Parnell 91, Andrew Birch 44*, Ishwar Pandey 3-67, Shahbaz Nadeem 3-99) by 196 runs.

An excellent bowling by the South Africa A bowlers brought their side to a commanding position as the India A batsmen bowed down against them in a timid way.

South Africa A amassed 341 runs after 121 overs in their first innings besides the failure of their top order batting and India A managed 145 for the loss of six wickets in 51.3 overs.

The second day’s play of the 2nd unofficial Test finished on Sunday, August 25, 2013, at LC de Villiers Oval, Pretoria.

Earlier the home side started their innings at 6-231 in 81.3 overs whereas Simon Harmer and Wayne Parnell were in the center for 68 and 64 runs. They were unable to score in the initial 2.3 overs and Harmer hit the first four of the day in the 87th one. Parnell got two consecutive boundaries in the 92nd over and his partner followed him in the 94th one in the same manner. The majestic seventh wicket partnership contributed 186 runs and came to end at 283 when Simon Harmer was declared leg before wicket off Shahbaz Nadeem for 96 from 168 balls with 1 six and 13 fours.

Beuran Hendricks - Tore apart the top order of India A
Beuran Hendricks – Tore apart the top order of India A

The next batsman, Kyle Abbott, was gone for just one runs and Wayne Parnell became the next victim at his personal feat of 91 off 259 deliveries comprising 12 fours. Andrew Birch played an unbeaten useful knock of 44 off 58 with 8 fours as the entire South African A side was dismissed for 341 in 121 overs.

Ishwar Pandey and Shahbaz Nadeem were the superior bowlers with three wickets each whereas Siddarth Kaul and Parvez Rasool chipped in with two wickets each.

The visitors lost an early wicket at 9 when Murali Vijay was held lbw off Beuran Hendricks for just four runs. Ajinkya Rahane joined in with his skipper, Cheteshwar Pujara, and they took the score to 23 after eight overs. Both batsmen tasted their first boundaries in the next two overs and the ball was being sent to the fence at regular intervals. Pujara dispatched his 25th First-class fifty in the 24th over with a four but was caught by Harmer off Hendricks for 54 off 97 balls with 5 rolling boundaries.

The second wicket fell at 95 and the newcomer Dinesh Karthik went back to the pavilion at 106 after scoring 9. Ajinkya Rahane became the next casualty for 36 off 82 deliveries with 5 fours as the rival bowlers took over and India A was reeling at 6-145 in 50.3 overs. Ambati Rayudu and Parvez Rasool got together and saw off the day without any further loss. They were unbeaten for 14 and o runs as India A reached 145 with four wickets still in hand after 51.3 overs.

Beuran Hendricks was the main wicket taker with three, Simon Harmer got two whereas Kyle Abbott secured one wicket.

India A still trails by 196 runs and Ambati Rayudu is the sole batsman who requires solid assistance from the other end to minimize the first innings lead of South Africa A.


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