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In the game that ended in a tie between India A and
South Africa A at Potchefstroom, fast bowler Prasidh Krishna and batter Pradosh
Ranjan Paul struck the biggest blows for their side. In the first innings,
Shardul Thakur showed promise as an all-rounder by taking a wicket and quickly
reaching a half-century.
On Boxing Day, Prasidh, who is part of India’s Test
team for the two-Test series in South Africa, may play his first Test match if
Mohammed Shami is sidelined due to a persistent knee ailment.
In the match against South Africa A, Prasidh earned
his third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, which caused a collapse in
the lower order. Early on the third day, the hosts collapsed to 319 all out
from 293 for 4. With a hat-trick spanning two overs, he finished with 5 for 43
in 18.1 overs, bowling the final three batters. Jean du Plessis, who top scored
with 106, and Rubin Hermann each took 95 wickets for Prasidh.
Left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar claimed 3 for 83 in 26
overs, while Shardul and Vidwath Kaverappa both claimed one wicket.
Paul, who scored his fourth hundred in first-class
cricket, spearheaded India A’s response. Paul earned the game’s highest score
of 163, making him the highest run scorer for Tamil Nadu in the 2022–23 Ranji
season. In order to overcome a lull and take the lead, he cobbled together two
century stands: 130 with Sarfaraz Khan, who struck 68, and then 152 with
Shardul. After Shardul hit 76 off 98 balls, India A concluded with 417. Evan
Jones, an all-around seam bowler for South Africa A, took 4 for 100.
There was not enough time to force a result following
the first-day washout, and South Africa A amassed 152 for 2 in their second
innings, with half-centuries from Yaseen Valli and du Plessis, before the match
concluded in a draw. Mumbai seamer Tushar Deshpande and Saurabh picked up the
two wickets to fall.
Members of the India A squad will play India’s Test
squad in a three-day game before finishing the tour with another four-day game
against South Africa A on Boxing Day in Benoni.