India A v South Africa A 1st Unofficial Test Review: India A secure a draw after Nair’s ton

India A v South Africa A 1^st Unofficial Test Review: India A secure a draw after Nair’s ton: Karun Nair took India ‘A’ to a draw with an unbeaten 114 on the last day of the first unofficial Test against South Africa ‘A’. Chasing a mammoth victory target of 444, the hosts were happy to bat out the day as they ended at 309 for four when the umpires decided to call off the match after consulting the two captains Ambati Rayudu and Dane Vilas.

Nair found a good time to break his indifferent run of form and scored his first century in any format since March 2015. The visitors would have fancied their chances of a maiden victory on this tour when the final day began but a couple of half centuries by Mukund and Vijay Shankar to go with Nair’s superlative ton ensured India were saved from the embarrassment.

Requiring 371 runs with eight wickets in hand, Ambati Rayudu and Abhinav Mukund resumed the innings for the hosts on the final day. Their partnership yielded 51 runs before Rayudu was snapped up by close-in fielder Theunis de Bruyn off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. With an aim to draw the match, left-handed opener Mukund downed the shutters early as he hardly attacked the bowling but at the same time was rock-solid in defence, scoring 65 off 200 balls with 8 boundaries. The home team were later left on 161 for 4 after the departure of Mukund.

Nair and Vijay Shankar then battled it out in the middle to ensure that the line-up doesn’t fold, like it had in the first innings. The pair kept the South Africa ‘A’ bowlers at bay as they strove for a result. While Nair posted a crucial century, the No 6 batsman Vijay made 74 in the unbroken 148-run stand. The duo came together when India were in a bit of trouble at 161 for 4 in the 64th over of the innings and there were more than 50 overs left in the day. The best part about the Nair-Shankar partnership was their positive intent. Dane Piedt, who completed a five-for yesterday, bowled 49 overs for only one wicket while left arm spinner Keshav Maharaj got 2.

Brief Scores:

End of Day 1: SA ‘A’ 1st inn 293/4 in 88 overs (O Ramela 112, T Bavuma 55, A Patel 2/52)

End of Day 2 –

SA ‘A’ 1st inn: 542 all out in 138.5 overs (Q de Kock 113, D Vilas 75, A Patel 4/115, S Iyer 2/29);

Ind ‘A’ 1st inn: 122/3 in 34.5 overs (S Iyer 49, A Rayudu 11*, D Peidt 2/47)

End of Day 3 –

Ind ‘A’ 1st inn: 204 all out in 66.3 overs (S Iyer 49, A Rayudu 46, D Peidt 5/88, K Maharaj 2/13);

SA ‘A’ 2nd inn: 105/1 decl. in 35 overs (R Hendricks 61, S van Zyl 38*);

Ind ‘A’ 2nd inn: 73/2 in 29 overs (A Mukund 32*, K Maharaj 1/24)

End of Day 4 – 

Ind ‘A’ 2nd inn: 309/4 in 107.2 overs (K Nair 114*, V Shankar 74*)

Result – Draw