South Africa A vs India A 4-Day Match (30 October- 2 November)

The series is of vital importance to help our players adjust to Indian conditions. Historically, most South African batters have struggled to play spin on the sub-continent. The overarching purpose of the series is to prepare our players for the upcoming tour of India that is taking place in November. 

India had selected experienced international players in their lineup such as Rishabh Pant (as their captain and wicketkeeper), Devdutt Padikkal and Khaleel Ahmed.

The following players were named in the starting lineup for South Africa A: Jordan Hermann, Lesego Senokwane, Zubayr Hamza, Marcques Ackerman (Captain), Rubin Herman, Rivaldo Moonsamy (Wk), Tiaan Van Vuuren, Prenelan Subrayen, Tshepo Moreki, Lutho Sipamla and Okhule Cele.

Summary of Day 1:

The first 4-Day match started off with India winning the toss and electing to bowl first at the first match that was held at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. South Africa ended the days play scoring 299 runs for the loss of 9 wickets with Cele being the only remaining player yet to bat.

The ball swung right from the start of the innings. Jordan Hermann and Lesego Senokwane opened the batting for South Africa. Senokwane was the first wicket to fall after being caught driving a wide outswinger from Kambooj and being caught at first-slip.

Zubayr Hamza came in at 3. The pair put on a 130 run partnership off 197 balls to recover the innings with Hamza scoring 66 runs off 109 balls before being dismissed at the end of the 34th over. Hamza started off well by cover-driving the fast bowlers and cutting the spinners for four if they bowled slightly short. He used his feet very well when advancing down the wicket to the spinners. Hamza hit nine fours and one six before eventually being caught by Pant off the bowling of Gurnoor. Unfortunately he mis-timed a cut shot to a short ball and a thin outside edge led to him being caught by Pant.  At the time of his dismissal South Africa were 136/2 at the start of the 35th over.

Jordan Hermann ended up scoring 71 runs off 140 balls hitting 8 fours before being dismissed lbw by Koitan  at the start of the 49th over. It was evident that Jordan felt that the ball hit his bat before being given out. After Jordan Hermann was dismissed South Africa were at 187 runs for 4 wickets after 49.1 overs. A key feature of his innings was how he drove the fast bowlers through point and hit them through mid-wicket. He also used the reverse and padel sweeps well to combat spin. 

Rubin Hermann came in at 5 and scored 54 off 87 balls hitting 6 fours before being bowled by Koitan. Tiaan van Vuuren also contributed well with the bat coming in at 7 hitting 46 runs off 75 balls with 5 fours and one six being hit. The pair put on a 72 run partnership with van Vuuren scoring 29 runs off 59 and Rubin Hermann scoring 40 runs off 55 balls until Hermann was dismissed leaving South Africa at 269 runs for the loss of 6 wickets.

Rubin Hermann got off the mark by cutting their finger spinner for four. Hermann played the spinners very late before deciding what stroke to play. Rubin played too good shots against Khaleel Ahmed by pulling him for four and a nice glance for four as well. Unfortunately, Koitan (their right arm off-spinner bowled a quicker and shorter pitched delivery) and Rubin mis-timed a pull shot which resulted in him being bowled.

Tiaan Van Vuuren edged a ball over the slips for four before eventually sweeping one of the spinners for four. Van Vuuren regularly played good sweep shots against Suthar  before eventually top edging a delivery and being caught at first slip.

The last wicket to fall was Lutho Sipamla who got bowled LBW by Khaleel Ahmed. 

Written by: Stuart Judge