Two cavalier shimmies, two well-timed fours and a shot to nothing summed up Rishabh Pant’s 29-minute 17 as India A bounced back to 234 against South Africa A on the second day of the four-dayer in Bengaluru on Friday.
After bowling out SA ‘A’ for 309 in the first session, 299/9 overnight, India succumbed to their own stubbornness and the relentlessness of off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen (5/61) to claim a 75-innings lead.
Teenager Ayush Mhatre (65, 76 balls) was the lone India A batsman who showed some determination on the day.
The tourists were 30 for no loss in their second innings, extending the lead to 105 runs. Jordan Hermann (12) and Lesego Senokwane (9) batted with the stumps, strengthening the hold the Proteas had on the opposition on the day.
PANTS THROW IT AWAY
But as expected, Pant’s comeback innings offered an interesting subtext to today’s proceedings.
Pant has done an excellent job behind the wicket on his return to competitive cricket after three months, but failed to replicate it in front of the wicket.
The left-hander opened the innings with an almighty drive against pacer Tshepo Moraki, connecting with thin air rather than the ball, and soon opened the account with a four over medium Subrayen in the sixth ball he faced.
He later pulled Moraki square for four, which showed signs of settling.
But a moment of indecision ended his tenure. Caught in two minds whether to cut or leave the ball, Pant eventually lobbed Zubayr Hamza’s delivery to gully.
SAI AND DEVDUTT DON’T GIVE ASSURANCE
It reflected the general listlessness of the Indian batsmen that day and started with Sai Sudharsan opening in the absence of the injured Narayan Jagadeesan.
The 94-ball 38 was filled with an atypical battle for timing and a couple of narrow escapes including a run.
Moreki finished the job with an outbound delivery that picked off Sudharsan’s bat and keeper Rivaldo Moonsamy did the rest.
Although nervous, Sudharsan helped Mhatre add 90 runs for the first wicket, the biggest in the hosts’ first innings.
Devdutt Padikkal just played a tame chip from Subrayen to Okuhle Cele at short midwicket and Rajat Patidar played an expansive drive without reaching the ball to be blocked by the off-spinner.
MHATRE MEANS
The only exception was Mhatre, who looked a million bucks during his half-century.
The Mumbai youngster exuded confidence and class throughout his innings; Celeo’s direct drive and Subrayen’s cover drive underlined the strong technical foundations of his batting.
“My mindset is clear – play your natural game. I have to hit the ball if it’s in my reach and I also watch the game situation and play accordingly.”
“I have been playing club cricket in Mumbai since I was 12 years old and it has helped me set up a good mindset and control,” said Mhatre after the day’s play.
Mhatra’s brilliance helped India go to lunch at 71 for no loss, but all the hard work was lost in the second over as they lost five wickets for 92 runs and were 163 for five at tea.
THE PROTEAS SPINNER SHINES
Mhatre himself was one of those to leave the mid-session frenzy, succumbing to the 32-year-old Subrayen, who took 22 unchanged overs in three sessions for a respectable fifer.
The man from Durban, an avid Ashwin fan, was understandably delighted.
“It was a good collective bowling effort. I think there was just a contribution from everyone in our bowling line-up. Whenever they got the ball in hand, we always gave our best. But yeah, it’s definitely a nice feeling to get some wickets in India,” he said.
Subrayen, who played for South Africa’s senior team in the recent first Test against Pakistan before being dropped from the squad for the tour of India, used a hint of spin and variable bounce to good effect and the home batsmen’s fickleness did the rest.
Ayush Badoni (38 off 47 balls) played a blistering innings that helped India A reduce the lead to the 100-run mark before he fell trying to add some quick runs.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
31 October 2025
