Bloemfontein, (Samajweekly) Riding on solid knocks by captain Priyank Panchal (45*), Prithvi Shaw (48) and Abhimanyu Easwaran (27*), India A reached 125/1, on Day 2 of the first four-day match against South Africa A, here on Wednesday.
In reply to South Africa A’s mammoth 509/7d, India A openers – Panchal and Shaw laid a superb foundation, putting up a brisk 80-run stand. Shaw played an attacking 45-ball 48-run knock, which included 9 fours and narrowly missed out on a half-century.
Panchal was then joined by Easwaran and the two made sure India A continued their good work with the bat. The duo put up an unbroken 45-run stand, denying South Africa A any further success before stumps on Day 2.
Earlier in the day, South Africa A, who resumed their innings at the overnight score of 343/3, lost two early wickets as India A speedsters Arzan Nagwaswalla and Navdeep Saini dismissed Jason Smith and Pieter Malan respectively. However, South Africa A wicketkeeper Sinethemba Qeshile, who scored an unbeaten 82, and George Linde added 102 runs together.
The partnership was broken soon after South Africa A moved past 450 as leg-spinner Rahul Chahar got Linde out for 51. While Marco Jansen scored 17, he was run-out by Shaw before South Africa A declared their innings at 509/7.
Brief Scores; South Africa A: 509/7 (Peter Malan 163, Tony de Zorzi 117; Navdeep Saini 2/67, Arzan Nagwaswalla 2/75) lead India: A 125/1 (Prithvi Shaw 48, Priyank Panchal 45*; Lutho Sipamla 1/28) by 384 runs.
