India Prasidh Krishna, a fast bowler, ripped through South Africa. After going wicketless on Day two, a lower-order knock early in the first session of Day three marked a remarkable turnaround in form.
The fast bowler had to pull his weight and repay the Indian selectors’ faith in him, as he was also named to the 16-man India Test squad that will face the Proteas later this month.
The right-arm quick began the day by dismissing Jean du Plessis for an expertly carved 106 off 213 before going on to clean up the tail with minimal damage as the hosts added only 21 runs to their overnight score of 298/5.
In response, South Africa A’s right-arm seamer Siya Plaatjie took the new ball and immediately charged in around the wicket to the left-handed India. Sai Sudharsan (14 off 18) is an opener who is looking for the outside edge of his bat.
Plaatjie (1/54 off 11 overs) eventually got his reward, catching Sadhursan’s outside edge with Cameron Shekelton completing an easy catch to give the hosts their first scalp of the day well within the first ten overs.
Pradosh Paul (68 off 85) and Sarfaraz Khan (68 off 85) rescued the visitors’ innings from 71/2 and added 130 runs for the third wicket, frustrating the South Africans in the second session.
Odirile Modimokoane (1/54 in 11 overs) brought the match back into balance by dismissing Khan just as the visitors appeared to have settled into a steady pace. Soon after, Eathan Bosch (2/46 in 13 overs) struck twice, dismissing Dhruv Jurel (0 off 4) and Test wicket-keeper batter Srikar Bharat (6 off 20).
While Paul, 22, batted calmly on his way to his fourth First-Class century, Test all-rounder Shardul Thakur asserted his dominance with nine boundaries and a six on his way to an unbeaten 94-ball 70.
South Africa finished the day with over 390 runs scored. Evan Jones (2/83 in 14.2 overs) bowled Paul out for a magnificent 163 runs off 209 deliveries, a knock that saw the youngster announce himself on the international stage with 23 boundaries and a six.
The visitors lead by 55 runs going into the fourth and final day, while the hosts need another four wickets to bat again in the match.
Today’s fourth and final day of the first unofficial Test begins at 10 a.m. at the JB Marks Oval.
South Africa totaled 319 (Jean du Plessis 106, Hermann 95; Krishna 5/43, Kumar 3/83).
377/6 India (Pradosh Paul 163, Sarfaraz Khan 68; Bosch 2/46, Jones 2/83)
India 58 runs in front
