Ackerman ton keeps South Africa A in the fight as pace bowlers shine, taking seven wickets for India A between them.
Prasidh, Siraj and Akash Deep star as Ackerman ton keeps South Africa A in the fight.
On Day 2 of the second four-day match at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Prasidh Krishna stung South Africa A with a fantastic session of seam bowling to help India A open up a sizable lead by stumps, just days after being left out of the Test squad to play South Africa.
Prasidh scored three, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep each scored two, and South Africa A collapsed for 221, giving the hosts a 34-run advantage. Despite losing three wickets, they turned this into a 112-run lead by stumps.
KL. After Abhimanyu Easwaran scored two runs and B Sai Sudharsan was caught lbw once more after playing outside his front pad to a nip-backer from left-arm seamer Tiaan van Vuuren, Rahul remained undefeated on 26, calm and collected. After taking two early wickets, Devdutt Padikkal, another member of the Test team, seemed to have stabilised the innings. However, at the stroke of stumps, he was dismissed for 24 as South Africa A made sure the hosts were still within touching distance.
Prasidh thrived in circumstances he would love to carry with him wherever after warming the bench during the two Test matches against the West Indies. He regularly beat the outside edge with seam movement, caused batters to clumsily fend at offerings, and tormented batters with bounce.
In contrast, Siraj was a little more successful. With the exception of a single over in which centurion Marques Ackerman hit three fours and two sixes, Siraj was outstanding with the new and semi-new ball.
He broke Kyle Simmonds’ stumps with a fantastic in-swinger, worried hitters with the late tail, and celebrated after pinning Zubayr Hamza plumb.
Angling in and straightening to beat the outside edge and hit top of off, Akash Deep’s pearler to Lesego Senokwane in the opening over was undoubtedly the ball of the day. There were several opportunities for him to take a few more wickets during that first stint, even though he couldn’t quite match that—anyone would have found it difficult. In the end, he was 2 for 28 in 10 overs.
After experiencing a number of setbacks since returning from a successful Test tour of England, Akash Deep’s confidence was greatly boosted by this outing. Ahead of the South Africa Tests, where he might start as the third seamer in home circumstances at Eden Gardens, it was also a welcome boost.