India A’s pacers delivered an excellent performance to overshadow Marques Ackerman’s superb century, pushing ahead of South Africa A on the second day of the second four-day game on Friday.
Prasidh Krishna (3/35), Mohammad Siraj (2/61) and Akash Deep (2/28) utilised the pace and carry of the track at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, taking seven wickets to bowl out South Africa for 221 in their first innings.
Ackerman’s innings of 134 (118b, 17×4, 5×6) was the backbone of the South African innings.
After securing a 34-run lead, India A were at 78 for three in their second innings, with an overall lead of 112 runs. KL Rahul (26) and Kuldeep Yadav (0) were at the crease at stumps.
Abhimanyu Easwaran faced a challenging match with his second duck, while
Sai Sudharsan’s preparation for the South Africa Test series ended with an unimpressive 23 off 38 balls.
Devdutt Padikkal (24) was batting steadily until Lesego Senokwane’s outstanding catch at gully ended his innings.
India pacers excel
Given the strength of India’s bowling unit, the total of 255 was always going to be a tough target for South Africa’s batters and it proved to be the case.
The tourists quickly found themselves at 12 for three inside the first eight overs.
Senokwane was clueless against an Akash delivery that moved slightly away, uprooting his off-stump.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma might feel aggrieved after the on-field umpire upheld a down-the-leg caught behind appeal by Akash.
Siraj contributed by dismissing Zubayr Hamza, putting the Proteas under early pressure.
The impressive new-ball spells by Siraj and Akash would have pleased the Indian team management ahead of the two-match Test series against South Africa, as the pair generated troubling bounce and carry from the pitch.
However, Ackerman and Jordan Hermann added 64 runs for the fourth wicket, keeping the hosts at bay until lunch at 76 for three.
The Indian bowlers bounced back strongly with Prasidh Krishna, who missed a spot in the India squad for the South Africa Test series, dismissing both Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen in the first over of the second session, reducing South Africa to 76 for five.
The situation soon worsened to 121 for seven, but Ackerman, showing grit rather than elegance, found a brave partner in Prenelan Subrayen (20).
They added 86 runs off 66 balls for the eighth wicket, helping South Africa surpass the 200-run mark. Ackerman shifted gears during this partnership, and Siraj faced the brunt.
Siraj erred in length, and Ackerman punished him with two sixes and three fours, collecting 24 runs from the 37th over, slightly tarnishing Siraj’s otherwise fine performance.
Ackerman had reached his first 50 runs off 77 balls, but his attack on Siraj helped him reach the next 50 in just 22 balls.
It was his 13th century in 79 first-class matches, boasting over 5000 runs at an average above 47.
The threatening partnership ended when Subrayen was run out by a direct hit from Siraj at short cover.
Soon after, Ackerman fell as well, giving a simple catch to India A skipper Rishabh Pant while attempting a reverse scoop off left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, as the tourists conceded a narrow lead.
(With PTI Inputs)
