Van Vuuren gives SA 'A' the advantage over India 'A'

Tiaan van Vuuren claimed four wickets to help South Africa 'A' seize the advantage after the opening day of the second unofficial Test against India 'A' in Bengaluru on Thursday.

The left-arm seamer grabbed 4/52 in 16.1 overs as the hosts were bowled out for 255 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. However, things could have been much better for the tourists had they not run into impressive India Test batter Dhruv Jurel.

Batting at No 6, he helped the home side recover from a dire 126/7 to more than double their score thanks to a superb unbeaten century. He ended the first day as the last man standing on 132* off 175 balls (12x4, 4x6).

Van Vuuren was not the only South African bowler to impress. There were also strong performances from Tshepo Moreki (2/52) and Prenelan Subrayen (2/73) – the trio helping bowl out their opponents late in the day in 77.1 overs.

The touring side were bolstered for the game by the inclusion of Proteas Test captain Temba Bavuma, while the hosts brought in several of their own Test squad ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series between the sides.

South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision fully vindicated just 36.4 overs into the day.

Abhimanyu Easwaran fell for a three-ball duck in the second over, trapped leg before wicket by Moreki, before fellow opener KL Rahul departed for 19, off Van Vuuren in the 16th over.

Sai Sudharsan (17) was then trapped lbw by Subrayen and Devdutt Padikkal (5) was the next victim of Van Vuuren in the 20th over. When first match hero and captain Rishabh Pant (24) was sent back by Moreki, India had slumped to 86 for five.

The subsequent wickets of Harsh Dubey (14) and Akash Deep (0) left them seven down for 126 but Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav (20) put on 79 together for the eighth wicket to take their side across the 200-mark.

And the former then continued to attack as the tail fell around him with the day ending when Prasidh Krishna was caught and bowled by Van Vuuren off his own bowling for nought, handing SA the advantage at stumps.

South Africa 'A' Four-Day Squad against India 'A'

Marques Ackerman (captain, Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Temba Bavuma (DP World Lions)*, Okuhle Cele (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Zubayr Hamza (DP World Lions), Jordan Hermann (Warriors), Rubin Hermann (North West Dragons), Rivaldo Moonsamy (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tshepo Moreki (World Sports Betting Western Province), Mihlali Mpongwana (World Sports Betting Western Province), Lesego Senokwane (Momentum Multiply Titans), Prenelan Subrayen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kyle Simmonds (World Sports Betting Western Province), Tsepo Ndwandwa (Momentum Multiply Titans), Jason Smith (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tiaan van Vuuren (Knights) and Codi Yusuf (DP World Lions).

*Second match only

South Africa 'A' One-Day squad against India 'A'

Marques Ackerman (captain, Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Ottneil Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Bjorn Fortuin (DP World Lions), Jordan Hermann (Dafabet Warriors), Rubin Hermann (North West Dragons), Kwena Maphaka (DP World Lions), Rivaldo Moonsamy (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tshepo Moreki (Worlds Sports Betting Western Province), Mihlali Mpongwana (World Sports Betting Western Province), Nqaba Peter (DP World Lions), Delano Potgieter (DP World Lions), Lhuan-dré Pretorius (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sinethemba Qeshile (Warriors), Jason Smith (Hollywoodbets Dolphins) and Codi Yusuf (DP World Lions).

Management - Four-Day Series

Malibongwe Maketa (Head Coach), Riaan Osman (Manager), Richard das Neves (Batting Coach), Rowan Richards (Bowling Coach), Jimmy Kgamadi (Fielding Coach), Phumelele Skosana (Team Doctor), Tumi Masekela (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Brent Martin (Physiotherapist) and Abram Ndhlovu (Team Analyst).

Management - One-Day Series

Wandile Gwavu (Head Coach), Riaan Osman (Manager), Imraan Khan (Batting Coach), Rowan Richards (Bowling Coach), Jimmy Kgamadi (Fielding Coach), Phumelele Skosana (Team Doctor), Johan Pretorius (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Brent Martin (Physiotherapist) and Abram Ndhlovu (Team Analyst).

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, 13 November - Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot

Sunday, 16 November - Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot

Wednesday, 19 November - Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot