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Board President XI vs South Africa: Cheteshwar Pujara sinks, KL Rahul rescues and Hardik Pandya blazes

Naman Ojha hits a shot on way to his 52 against South Africa

There were a lot of players who entered the field for South Africa’s tour match against Board President XI on Friday at the Brabourne Stadium with a lot to prove. At stumps on Day 1 of the 2-day match, the practice match being played before the 1st Test at Mohali next Thursday, some like KL Rahul (72 off 132) could walk off with accomplished smiles, while some like Cheteshwar Pujara (5 off 15) would be cursing themselves for a lost opportunity.

At the end of the first day, South Africa trail the Board President XI score by 250 runs with 8 wickets in hand.

Board President XI captain Pujara won the toss and opted to bat first. Opener Unmukt Chand was dismissed in the very first over by Dale Steyn for 4. His opening partner, KL Rahul stood firm on one end, as a collapse from the other end saw the Indian team crumble to 27/3 in the 9th over – Pujara and Shreyas Iyer cleaned up for single-digit scores.

Dale Steyn (3/46) and Vernon Philander (2/37) gave a lot of trouble to the Indian top order, and the recovering Morne Morkel chipped in with 5 overs too, not conceding a single run – finishing the day with figures of 5-5-0-0.

Rahul found an able partner in Karnataka teammate Karun Nair, as the pair brought up 105 runs for the fourth wicket.

Simon Harmer (3/41) was the Protea spinner who caused most pain to the Indian batsmen, accounting for KL Rahul’s wicket and snuffing out the charge given by the Board President XI lower order.

Pandya entertains crowd, South Africa attack stopped by Shardul

Naman Ojha and Hardik Pandya played some attacking cricket after the tea session. Ojha was Steyn’s third victim, falling for 52. Pandya blasted three sixes – the only sixes hit on the day – and six fours on way to an entertaining 55-ball 47.

The Indian innings folded for 296, a respectable finish considering the early collapse which had seen them struggling at 27/3. Pujara is someone whose place in the India team may be in serious doubt now, despite having scored a century in his last Test – the 3rd Test against Sri Lanka.

In reply to the Indian innings, the South African openers Stiaan van Zyl and Dean Elgar came out all guns blazing, bringing up 30 runs in the first six overs, before Shardul Thakur removed Van Zyl for 18. Simon Harmer was sent out at No.3 as night watchman, and he too fell to Shardul Thakur for 4. South Africa will resume batting on Day 2 with the score at 46/2 in 8.2 overs.

Shardul Thakur, the Mumbai pacer, finished the day with figures of 2/28 from his 4.2 overs, and Nathu Singh, the much-vaunted young Indian pacer, bowled 3 overs for 10 runs. Hardik Pandya bowled the other over.

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