Dhruv Jurel scores second consecutive ton as India A dominate South Africa A
Dhruv Jurel's second consecutive century (127*) and Harsh Dubey's 84 helped India A declare at 382/7, taking a 416-run lead. South Africa A, chasing 417, were 25/0 at stumps. Jurel's performance has raised his Test prospects
Bengaluru: Dhruv Jurel made a strong case for his continued presence in the senior Test eleven with his second hundred in as many innings against South Africa A, while fortifying India A’s position on the third day of the four-day match here on Saturday.
Jurel (127 not out) found the perfect partner in Harsh Dubey (84) during a sixth-wicket stand of 184 runs, guiding India A to 382 for seven declared in their second innings for an overall lead of 416.
At stumps, South Africa A were 25 for no loss, needing 392 more runs to overhaul the target of 417. Lesego Senokwane (9) and Jordan Hermann (15) were at the crease.
Jurel show
Jurel was India’s wicketkeeper-batter during the home Test series against the West Indies while Rishabh Pant was recuperating from a foot injury sustained in England.
Now fully fit, Pant is expected to return to the eleven against South Africa next week, but Jurel has certainly given the selectors a pleasant dilemma with twin hundreds in this match.
He had scored an unbeaten 132 in the first innings here, and now the selectors will at least have to consider how to fit Jurel into the eleven, either in Kolkata or Guwahati.
Much like his first innings, this knock too was perfectly paced and free of errors, offering no chances to the South African bowlers.
He once again displayed his safe yet effective method of accumulating runs. There were hardly any aerial shots, and the runs flowed through well-timed cuts past point, drives through covers, and flicks off his pads.
Jurel reached his fifty off 83 balls, while Dubey, batting more briskly, got there in 76.
As their partnership flourished, South Africa A might have regretted dropping Dubey before he had even opened his account.
His expansive drive off left-arm spinner Kyle Simmonds was spilled at first slip, and there were no further slip-ups during his 178-minute stay, as he mixed grit with flair.
Jurel soon brought up his 14th first-class ton off 159 balls with a flicked boundary off pacer Tiaan van Vuuren, as the pair added 127 runs off 28 overs in a free-flowing middle passage.
However, Simmonds had his revenge when he held on to a catch off Tshepo Moreki to dismiss Dubey, but by then India A were well ahead in the game.
Pant retires hurt, returns
Skipper Pant, who made a cavalier 65 off 54 balls, had to return to the pavilion after being struck thrice in quick succession by pacer Moreki.
He was first hit flush on the helmet while attempting a reverse pull, then on the left forearm while playing a conventional pull, and finally in the abdomen.
Pant wanted to continue, but coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar called him back for a quick medical check, with an important assignment against World Test champion South Africa approaching.
The left-hander was on 17 off 22 balls when he retired hurt, with the team score at 108.
He returned after Dubey’s dismissal to complete a quickfire fifty filled with trademark strokes and later kept wickets, easing any concerns about his fitness.
His dismissal with an hour remaining in the day prompted the hosts to declare.
Earlier, South Africa A had managed to seize a small advantage in the morning session, removing overnight batters KL Rahul (27) and Kuldeep Yadav (16).
Pacer Okuhle Cele (3/46) breached Rahul’s defence with a delivery that shaped away to knock back his off-stump, while Kuldeep lobbed a catch to Temba Bavuma at mid-on off Prenelan Subrayen.
India were 116 for five, ahead by just 140 runs, and the situation looked grim in Pant’s absence.
But Jurel and Dubey lifted India A out of that position of concern with a fluent partnership that firmly placed the home side on top.
