Fast-bowler Prasidh Krishna and batter Pradosh Ranjan Paul put in impressive performances as India A were held to a draw against South Africa A in a four-day Test match.
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The match which eventually played out to be a draw, featured noteworthy performances from the Indian side. Krishna dominated the bowling department, picking up five wickets while only giving away 43 runs during his 18.1 over spell.
The 27-year-old made quite a statement with his display, making him a potential candidate for India’s upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa. He could now be in the fray should Mohammed Shami remain sidelined due to a knee injury.
Krishna ran through the opposition’s lower order, claiming his third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, while also picking up a hattrick. His spell meant South Africa A crumbled from a solid position of 239 for 4 to a final score of 319 in the first innings.
India A’s bowling also saw contributions from Vidwath Kaverappa and left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar, who picked up a wicket each. South Africa A managed their score supported by Jean du Plessis’s 106 and Rubin Hermann’s 95.
On the batting front, Pradosh scored 163 runs off 209 balls, smashing 23 boundaries and a solitary six. He stitched two century-plus stands, first with Sarfaraz Khan, who scored an 85-ball 68, and then with Shardul Thakur, who scored 76 runs off 98 balls.
In their second innings, South Africa managed to score 152 for 2 in 42 overs before the match ended in a draw. Opener Yaseen Valli remained unbeaten on 72 runs off 137 balls, smashing eight boundaries, while Du Plessis scored an unbeaten 50 off 82 deliveries.
The game was delayed due to the first day being washed out and ultimately resulted in a draw over four days.