Cele takes three but SA 'A' set 417 target against India 'A'

Okuhle Cele took three wickets but South Africa 'A' were again defied by a Dhruv Jurel century as India 'A' enjoyed the better of the third day of the second unofficial Test at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Saturday.

The hosts, who resumed on their overnight 78/3, scored an impressive 382/7 declared with Test batter Jurel recording his second century of the match after he scored 127* (170 balls, 15x4, 1x6). It followed his first innings unbeaten 132.

For the tourists, the bowlers struggled to make regular inroads as Cele ended as the pick of the bowlers with 3/46 in 14 overs. All the other frontline bowlers ended with a wicket apiece.

India’s strong showing meant they set the South Africans a daunting 417 target, with openers Jordan Hermann (15*) and Lesego Senokwane (9*) doing well to negotiate 11 overs without any trouble before the close.

The initial part of the day had also gone the way of the away side after Cele bowled another India Test star, KL Rahul for 27 inside the opening three overs. Captain Rishabh Pant was then forced to retire hurt, while nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav (16) was removed by Prenelan Subrayen (1/76) leaving the score on 116/5.

However, the game was then changed dramatically by Jurel. He first put on a game-changing 184 with Harsh Dubey (84 off 116 balls, 12x4, 1x6), before Pant returned to the middle to help the centurion put on 82 thanks to a dashing 65 off 54 balls (5x4, 4x6).

That put India in a strong position and they declared at the fall of Pant.

But the two SA openers then knuckled down to at least give their side a fighting chance with all 10 wickets in hand heading into day four.

Fixtures

Four-Day Series

30 October-2 November - BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru - India 'A' won by three wickets

6-9 November - BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru

One-Day Series

Thursday - Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot

Sunday, 16 November - Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot

Wednesday, 19 November - Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot