Kotian’s four-wicket haul restricts South Africa-A

A tinge of grass on the surface and a steady lateral breeze provided ideal bowling conditions, and India A captain Rishabh Pant’s decision to bowl first was vindicated as South Africa A ended the opening day at 299 for nine in the first multi-day match at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Grounds here on Thursday.

The decision paid off early when pacer Anshul Kamboj struck in the fourth over, drawing opener Lesego Senokwane into a drive outside off and inducing an edge to first slip.

The other opener, Jordan Hermann and Zubayr Hamza, then steadied the innings with a disciplined partnership. Hermann looked fluent, pulling a short ball crisply to the square-leg boundary, while Hamza opened his account with a thick edge past third man.

Hamza grew in confidence, driving elegantly through the covers, executing deft late cuts and reverse sweeps, and running hard between the wickets to bring up a well-constructed half-century. The visitor went to lunch, strongly placed at 108 for one.

After the break, medium-pacer Gurnoor Brar surprised Hamza with a sharp, rising delivery that brushed the edge on its way to Pant — a marginal decision that ended a solid 132-run second-wicket stand.

Tanush Kotian.
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR

Skipper Marques Ackerman joined Hermann, and the pair kept the scoreboard moving before off-spinner Tanush Kotian turned the tide. Kotian removed Ackerman to a sharp catch at short mid-wicket and trapped Hermann (71, 140b, 8×4) in front just before tea.

Post-interval, Rivaldo Moonsamy fell cheaply to Manav Suthar, reducing the visitors to 197 for five. Tiaan van Vuuren counterattacked, adding 72 runs for the sixth wicket with Rubin Hermann, before Kotian struck twice — castling both Hermann and Prenelan Subrayen — to bag his fourth.

With wickets tumbling, Van Vuuren’s attempted hoick resulted in a top edge to short fine leg, and left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed struck late, trapping Lutho Sipamla plumb in front as India A ended the day firmly in control.

The scores: South Africa A 299/9 in 85.2 overs (Jordan Hermann 71, Zubayr Hamza 66, Rubin Hermann 54, Tanush Kotian 4/83) vs India A. Toss: India A.