Lungi Ngidi, Lutho Sipamla and Wiaan Mulder claimed a wicket each but it was India A who dominated the opening day of the second and final Test against South Africa A in Mysore on Tuesday.
The hosts reached 233 by stumps on day one thanks to half-centuries by Shubman Gill and Karun Nair – the pair ensuring that a solid platform was being laid for a home side aiming for a series sweep after they won the first game by seven wickets last week.
It was a disappointing return by a strong South African XI, which featured seven players that are in the Test squad that will take on the Indians in a three-match Test series in the Asian country next month.
The tourists won the toss and opted to bowl on day one and they initially made a strong start thanks to early strikes by Ngidi (1/41) and Mulder (1/19) at the Srikantadatta Narasimha Raja Wadeyar Ground.
The pair removed Abhimanyu Easwaran (5) and Priyank Panchal (6) leaving the hosts on 31 for two. But Gill, who was last week called up to the senior India team for next month’s big series, struck a strong 92 (137 balls, 12 fours, 1 six) and together with another Test player Nair (78 not out off 167 balls, 10 fours), shared in a healthy 135-run stand for the third wicket.
After Sipamla eventually broke the stand with Gill eight short of his century, Test wicketkeeper and captain Wriddhiman Saha (36 not out) added an unbroken 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Nair that put India A in the pound seat at the close.
Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
