India A tour of South Africa 2013: Pacers help India A continue domination

Ishwar Pandey – Wrecker-in-chief

Rustenburg – A spirited display of fast bowling by pacers helped India A continue their domination over South Africa A on the third day of the first unofficial Test at the Olympia Park here Monday.

Ishwar Pandey was the pick of the India A bowlers with four for 40 while his fellow pacers Jaydev Unadkat and Mohammed Shami bagged a wicket each to leave South Africa A at 312 for nine in the first innings at stumps.

Suresh Raina, a centurion, also came up with an all-round show bagging the valuable wickets of Jean Paul Duminy (84), Rilee Rossouw (57), who were the notable scorers for South Africa.

Skipper Justin Ontong and keeper Thami Tsolekile came up with 47 each lower down the order but could not save South Africa A from trailing by 270 runs.

India A riding on three centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara (137), Rohit Sharma (119) and Suresh Raina (135) declared their first innings at a mammoth 582 for nine Sunday.

South Africa A, resuming the day at 20/1, suffered another quick set-back after Shami trapped Dean Elgar (11) leg-before in just the third over of the day.

Simon Harmer (22) became Pandey’s first victim edging straight to the wicketkeeper as South Africa were soon reduced to 94 for three.

Rossouw and Duminy tried to resurrect the innings but part-time spinner Raina struck to get rid of Rossouw and then took a fine catch to remove Temba Bavuma that left South Africa reeling at 119 for five.

Duminy then carried on the fight and stitched two valuable partnerships with Ontong and Tsolekile that saved the hosts the blushes. With Ontong, Duminy added 75 runs for the sixth wicket and with Tsolekile he added 86 for the seventh wicket that helped South Africa A get a respectable total on board.

Brief Scores: India A 582/9 in first innings declared. South Africa A 312 for nine in first innings (Duminy 84, Rossuw 57l; Pandey 4/40, Raina 2/33)