India A take control against South Africa A despite Ackerman century

India A pacers Prasidh Krishna, Mohammad Siraj and Akash Deep shared seven wickets to bowl out South Africa A for 221, keeping India A in command on day two despite Marques Ackerman’s 134-run century in the second four-day match in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Fast bowlers produced an excellent effort as India A made light of Marques Ackerman’s masterly century to edge ahead of South Africa A on the second day of the second four-day match here on Friday.

Prasidh Krishna (3/35), Mohammad Siraj (2/61), and Akash Deep (2/28) used the pace and carry on the BCCI Centre of Excellence pitch to good effect, sharing seven wickets among them and bowling out South Africa for 221 in their first innings.

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Ackerman’s 134 (118 balls, 17×4, 5×6) was the glue that held the South African innings together.

After securing a 34-run lead, India A were placed at 78 for three in their second innings, for an overall lead of 112 runs. KL Rahul (26) and Kuldeep Yadav (0) were batting at stumps.

Abhimanyu Easwaran made the path even more difficult with his second duck of the match, while Sai Sudharsan concluded his lukewarm preparation for the South Africa Test series with an underwhelming 23 off 38 balls.

Devdutt Padikkal (24) was batting steadily, but an outstanding catch at gully by Lesego Senokwane brought a disappointing end to his innings.

India pacers excel

The total of 255 was always going to be a steep challenge for the South African batters, considering the quality of India’s bowling unit, and it played out just like that.

In no time, the tourists were 12 for three inside the first eight overs.

Senokwane had little clue about an Akash delivery that moved a little away to uproot his off-stump.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma might have been aggrieved after the on-field umpire accepted a down-the-leg caught behind appeal by Akash.

Siraj chipped in with the wicket of Zubayr Hamza as the Proteas were jolted early.

The breezy new-ball spell of Siraj and Akash would have impressed the Indian team management ahead of the two-match Test series against South Africa, as the pair extracted disconcerting bounce and carry from the track.

However, Ackerman and Jordan Hermann added 64 runs for the fourth wicket to keep the visitors at bay till the stroke of lunch at 76 for three.

The Indian bowlers came back strongly as Prasidh Krishna, who missed out on a place in the India squad for the South Africa Test series, dismissed both Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen in the first over of the second session to reduce South Africa to 76 for five.

The situation soon became graver at 121 for seven, but Ackerman, who has more grit than elegance as a left-hander, found a brave assistant in Prenelan Subrayen (20).

They added 86 runs off 66 balls for the eighth wicket as South Africa went past the 200-run mark. Ackerman slipped into overdrive during this partnership, and Siraj bore the brunt.

He erred in length, and Ackerman hit him for two sixes and three fours to collect 24 runs from the 37th over. That particular over slightly blotted Siraj’s otherwise fine outing.

The 29-year-old had made his first 50 runs off 77 balls, but that assault on Siraj helped him get his next 50 in just 22 balls.

It was Ackerman’s 13th century in 79 first-class matches, where he has over 5000 runs at an average of over 47.

The threatening stand was broken when Subrayen was run out after a direct hit from Siraj at short cover.

Soon, Ackerman also departed, giving a simple catch to Rishabh Pant while attempting a reverse scoop off left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, as the tourists conceded a slender lead.