India A tour of South Africa: Bowlers help South Africa level the series 1-1

Ajinkya Rahane’s 86 runs helped India avoid an embarrassing defeat

Needing 304 runs to win the match and the series in the final day of the second first class match between India A and South Africa A, India were bowled out for 185, courtesy of impressive performances from the South African fast bowlers, led by Beuran Hendricks who picked up 6 wickets to help the hosts level the series.

Resuming the day on 3 for 1, Cheteshwar Pujara, the only player who managed to get past a score of 50 in India’s first innings, was the first wicket to fall, run out by his opposite number Justin Ontong . Hendricks then ran through the Indian batting order, picking up three consecutive wickets, to leave India reeling at 18/5.

Just when it seemed all over for the visitors, Ajinkya Rahane, in what might be the last chance to impress the selectors in order to get picked for India’s tour of South Africa later this year, and Wriddhiman Saha put up a spirited fight to deny any further inroads for the South African bowlers. They combined to score 160 runs in the next 50.4 overs to take India to a position from which they could see a realistic possibility of winning the match.

But as it turned out, Hendricks was not finished. With India on 178 for 5 and needing 129 runs to win in 35 overs, he returned to dismiss Rahane for a 156-ball 86 that started the collapse from which the visitors never recovered. India lost their last 5 wickets for just seven runs as South Africa levelled the series 1-1. Saha remained not out on 77.

Earlier, a late comeback from Simon Harmer (96) and Wayne Parnell (91) helped South Africa post a first innings score of 341. After taking a lead of 140 runs, Ontong declared the home team’s second innings with the score on 166 for 5, thereby setting a target of 307 runs.