Bad light forced a premature end for the 2nd unofficial Test between India A and South Africa A.

South Africa began the day at 116/5, and were badly in need of a substantial push forward in order to regain the ascendancy. Even though George Linde was dismissed very early, cameos from Marco Jansen and Glenton Stuurman ensured that the home team would have a fighting chance.

But the Indian pacers quickly wrapped up the innings, with Saini and Nagwaswalla taking the last two wickets without letting either partnership add too many runs. It was an innings that never got going for SA, but they had put together a rather decent 212, setting up a target of 233 for India.

It looked like SA were on course to achieving the improbable when Stuurman sent back both the openers within the first 7 overs of the chase. However, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Hanuma Vihari dug in and fed each other’s strengths throughout their 133-run stand, which all but took the game away from the South Africans. Both batters scored briskly and found the boundary on all sides, until the reintroduction of Stuurman created the opening when Easwaran was bowled.

Bad light resulted in an extended delay, and it soon was decided that play couldn’t go on any further. While this game ended in a draw, it was well fought out, with both sides exchanging the advantage on multiple occasions. It’s served as vital preparation for players from both teams, and should forebode an exciting Test series coming up not too far away from now.

SA A 297 + 212
Ind A 276 + 155/3 (Vihari 72*, Easwaran 55 – Stuurman 3/51)