Skipper Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten fifty laced with grit, patience and a touch of luck kept India A together on the Test day as they reached 119 for four in pursuit of 275 against South Africa A on the penultimate day of the four-dayer in Bengaluru on Saturday.
India still need 166 runs to secure victory after South Africa, who went on to 30 for no loss, were dismissed for 199 in their second innings earlier in the day.
Pant (64 off 81 balls, 8×4, 2×6) and Ayush Badoni (0)* were at the crease at stumps with the skipper carrying the side’s hopes heading into the final day.
With India reeling at 32 for three, Pant joined Rajat Patidar (28) to overcome a fiery spell from the South African pacers who got pace and bounce off the surface. The duo added 77 runs for the fourth wicket, steadying the innings after a flurry of early dismissals.
Tshepo Moreki and Okuhle Cele did the first damage – Moreki first bowled Ayush Mhatre and then trapped Sai Sudharsan’s leg, while Cele broke through Devdutt Padikkal’s defense with a crisp delivery.
But Pant countered the hostility with characteristic flair, confidently pulling Cele and elevating Prenelan Subrayen’s extraordinary spinner for a formidable six. Intent on regaining momentum, not just surviving, he was given a reprieve on 46 when Cele sat at fine leg from Tiaan van Vuuren.
The wicket-keeper batsman soon brought up a well-crafted half-century off 65 balls, driving Subrayen through the covers to reach the mark. Although he needed treatment for cramp later in the innings, Pant remained composed, mixing aggression with calculated risk.
At the other end, Patidar fought hard against the fast attack and survived an early lead bowled by Jordan Hermann at second slip. After a few anxious moments, he found a rhythm with a series of sharp moves, only to fall to a reckless uppercut from Van Vuuren – a release that visibly frustrated Pant.
Earlier in the day, South Africa A squandered a promising overnight position with a combination of aggression and poor shot selection. From 30 for no loss, they slumped to 128 for six before lunch as Tanush Kotian (4/26) and Anshul Kamboj (3/39) made their way through the middle order.
Zubayr Hamza struck briefly with five boundaries in the superior Gurnoor Brar, including two elegant flicks and a cover drive, before falling tamely to Manav Suthar. Captain Marques Ackerman’s failure against Kotian summed up their indiscipline as his stumps were knocked back at 135 for seven.
However, the lower order added a valuable 64 runs for the last three wickets, stretching the lead to give their bowlers something to defend.
With Pant set and India A still within striking distance, the match is sensitively poised heading into the final day – a battle between South Africa’s tenacity with the ball and Pant’s determination to take India A home.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
November 1, 2025
