India-A clinched the two-match ‘Test’ series against South Africa-A 1-0 after the second Test’s final day too was affected by rains and the match ended in a tame draw. Like on Sunday, the final session was washed out after players broke for tea.
Earlier, resuming at 294 for seven, SA-A was bowled out for 319. Pacer Mohammed Siraj removed Anrich Nortje in the first over of the day. Then Ankit Rajpoot had Duanne Olivier caught behind before Siraj bowled Mthiwekhaya Nabe to help the hosts take a 26-run lead.
In a repeat of the first innings, India-A lost early wickets, with Olivier bowling Prithvi Shaw and then trapping G. Hanuma Vihari leg-before for a duck with the score reading 14.
Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Iyer then steadied things a bit before Agarwal was dismissed just before lunch. He was cleaned up by Senuran Muthusamy with a classical left-arm spinner’s delivery that squared up the Karnataka batsman before disturbing the middle and off-stump.
However, post lunch, Shreyas and Ankeet Bawane counter-attacked with some flamboyant shots. Skipper Shreyas in particular was severe on Muthusamy and off-spinner Dane Piedt.
Shreyas thrashed Piedt for three sixes — one over long-on after stepping down and two over long-off. He was eventually dismissed for 65. Bawane, who made 80 in the first innings, continued his good touch with another half-century and remained unbeaten on 64.
The scores: India-A — 1st innings: 345.
South Africa-A — 1st innings: Pieter Malan lbw b Siraj 0, Sarel Erwee lbw Chahal 58, Zubayr Hamza c Shreyas b Chahal 93, Hendrik Van Der Dussen c Bharat b Rajpoot 22, Rudi Second c Shaw b Rajpoot 47, Senuran Muthusamy (not out) 35, Dwaine Pretorius c Siraj b Jayant 10, Dane Piedt b Siraj 22, Anrich Nortje lbw b Siraj 0, Duanne Olivier c Bharat b Rajpoot 4, Mthiwekhaya Nabe b Siraj 7; Extras (nb-16, b-1, lb-4): 21; Total (in 98.2 overs): 319.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-154, 3-163, 4-233, 5-236, 6-254, 7-294, 8-294, 9-299.
India-A bowling: Siraj 21.2-4-72-4, Saini 21-9-41-0, Rajpoot 20-7-52-3, Jayant 14-2-65-1, Chahal 22-1-84-2.
India-A — 2nd innings: Prithvi Shaw b Olivier 4, Mayank Agarwal b Muthusamy 28, G. Hanuma Vihari lbw b Olivier 0, Shreyas Iyer c & b Muthusamy 65, Ankeet Bawane (not out) 64, K.S. Bharat (not out) 18; Extras (nb-2): 2; Total (for four wickets in 51 overs): 181.
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-14, 3-54, 4-140.
South Africa-A bowling: Olivier 10-5-24-2, Nortje 12-2-41-0, Muthusamy 12-2-45-2, Pretorius 7-1-28-0, Piedt 9-0-39-0, Erwee 1-0-4-0.
Match drawn. India-A wins series 1-0.