Bengaluru witnessed a match that will be remembered for years. South Africa A stunned India A. Chasing a target of 417 runs, they won the match.
This is the highest chase ever in an A series. India A was playing under the captaincy of Rishabh Pant.
India had won the first match, but today South Africa leveled the series 1-1.
Openers gave a strong start
On the final day of the match, South Africa needed 417 runs. The wicket was good, and the ball was coming easily onto the bat. Openers Jordan Harman and Lesego Senokwane performed brilliantly.
Together, they shared a 156-run partnership. Harman scored 91 runs, hitting 13 fours and a six. Senokwane was dismissed for 77. The duo hit boundaries every other over and rotated the strike by taking singles.
75 runs were added in the first session of the morning. Indian bowlers like Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav couldn’t do much.
The middle order did the magic
After the openers, Zubair Hamza and Temba Bavuma took charge. Hamza scored 77 and Bavuma 59. The two added 107 runs for the third wicket. Hamza attacked the spinners fiercely.
When Bavuma was dismissed, there were still 65 runs remaining. Captain Marcus Ackermann was then dismissed for 24.
However, Conor Esterhuizen remained unbeaten on 52 and Tian van Vuuren on 20. Both played calmly in the final overs and closed out the match.
South Africa won by scoring 417/5 in just 98 overs. Prasidh Krishna took two wickets for India. Mohammed Siraj suffered a finger injury but returned.
Pant also spent some time off the field. Five South African batsmen scored half-centuries, giving them a major boost ahead of the Test series.
