India 'A' take lead without a loss as Prithvi, Mayank slam centuries

.

In response to South Africa A’s total of 246, India A had a terrific start in the first unofficial Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. On Sunday, Prithvi Shaw, the Indian U-19 World Cup skipper, smashed a magnificent century against the visitors while his opening companion, Mayank Agarwal, has also got a ton.

Both the openers got the three figures in the second session on day 2. The duo has stitched a 266-run partnership for the opening wicket in 54 overs. Prithvi (130 off 147 unbeaten) and Mayank (123 off 137) have both hit 1 six each along with 20 and 21 boundaries respectively.

The Indians have taken a lead of 20 runs at tea and yet to lose their first wicket.

Earlier today, South Africa resumed their play at 246/8 but failed to add any more runs to their previous day’s score. Pacer Mohammad Siraj struck in the very first over of the day and took the last two wickets of Beuran Hendricks (6) and Duanne Oilivier (0), to claim a five-wicket haul after leaking 56 runs in 20.3 overs.

Apart from Siraj, Navdeep Saini and Rajnish Gurbani claimed 2 wickets each while Chahal, who returned in the red-ball cricket after a long time, picked 1 scalp in 19 overs.

On Saturday, South Africa 'A' wicketkeeper Rudi Second missed a century by six runs as India 'A' bowlers produced a disciplined performance to restrict the visitors to 246 for eight. Except for Second (94) and Sarel Erwee (47), none of the other South Africans could make a significant contribution.

Coming out at the fall of Erwee with his team tottering at 93 for four, Second held the South Africa 'A' innings together before he was the last man out on the first day of the four-day game. He hit 12 boundaries in his 139-ball innings.

Second stitched 59 runs with Senuran Muthusamy for the fifth wicket to resurrect the South Africa 'A' innings before a 39-run stand with Shaun von Berg helped his side near the 250-run mark.

After that, there was a 50-run stand between Erwee and captain Khaya Zondo (24) for the third wicket. Saini ended that partnership by sending Zondo to the pavilion. Another wicket fell as South Africa 'A' were reduced to 93 for four before Second took charge.

Brief Scores:

South Africa 'A': 246 all-out in 88.3 overs (Rudi Second 94, Sarel Erwee 47; Siraj 5/56, Navdeep Saini 2/47, Rajneesh Gurbani 2/47).

India ‘A’: 266/0 in 54 overs (Prithvi Shaw 130, Mayank Agarwal 133) at Tea.