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Bengaluru:In the first unofficial Test between India A and South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1, South Africa A ended Day 1 on 299 for 9 after India A elected to bowl first. The hosts produced a strong bowling display which limited the visitors despite a few determined knocks from the middle order. South Africa A’s innings South Africa A lost one of their openers early, but then brought stability thanks to a half-century by Zubayr Hamza and a steady innings by Jordan Hermann who also crossed fifty. The pair put together a solid stand and helped the side recover comfortably after the early blow. However, as the innings progressed, India A’s bowlers tightened the grip. Young off-spinner Tanush Kotian stood out with a four-wicket haul, dismantling the tail and preventing a big score from the visitors. Seamers and other bowlers backed him up effectively, not allowing South Africa A’s lower order to bat freely. India A’s bowling performance India A captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and chose to bowl, gambling on early wickets on a pitch expected to offer help. The tactic paid off as the bowlers struck at regular intervals. Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed and Manav Suthar all chipped in with at least one wicket each, maintaining pressure throughout the sessions. The middle overs saw India A restrict South Africa A’s scoring rate to below four an over. Given the situation, this was a commendable effort against a touring side known for their aggressive batting in red-ball formats. Key turning points of the day One of the early turning points came when Tanush Kotian removed Zubayr Hamza shortly after the senior batter had looked settled. This broke the backbone of the South African innings and opened the door for India A’s resurgence. Later, the last three wickets fell rapidly, restricting South Africa A to under 300 when they might have expected to reach beyond the 350-mark. From the South African perspective, while the partnership between Hamza and Jordan Hermann offered hope, the failure of the lower order to contribute meaningful runs proved costly. The 10-run partnership in the final overs exemplified how India A held control. What to watch going forward For India A, the first innings advantage gives them a strong position. In the next session, they may look to build a big first-innings total to put South Africa A under pressure. For South Africa A, the task will be to bounce back quickly — a strong start in their second innings or a disciplined bowling performance will be crucial. The match offers valuable opportunities for young players on both sides to push their claims for future international selection, so performances will be watched closely by selectors and team management. Day 1 of the unofficial Test between India A and South Africa A ended on a positive note for India A, who restricted their opponents to 299/9. With the bowling combination working well and key wickets falling at the right time, India A have set the tone. South Africa A will need to regroup and respond strongly on Day 2 if they are to assert themselves in the series.
