In a display of resilience and skill, South African ‘A’ team batsmen Yaseen Valli and Jean du Plessis each struck unbeaten half-centuries to guide their team to a draw in the first ‘Unofficial Test’ against India ‘A’. The match concluded in Potchefstroom on Thursday, with South Africa ‘A’ comfortably batting out the final day, reaching 152 for 2 in 42 overs before the teams decided to call it quits.
The day began with challenges for the home side when they found themselves at a worrying 48 for 2 in the 12th over. Opener Cameron Dean Shekleton and one-down batter Rubin Herman were dismissed early, putting South Africa ‘A’ in a precarious situation. However, the turning point came when Valli, who played the role of the opener, and Du Plessis steadied the ship, demonstrating great composure and technical prowess. Valli’s innings of 72 not out came off 137 balls and included eight boundaries. Du Plessis complemented him well with his steadfast 50 not out off 82 balls, hitting five boundaries. Their partnership negated any further damage, as they played out the rest of the day without further complications.
Their performance was particularly impressive against the Indian pace battery, highlighted by Prasidh Krishna who had been lethal in the first innings, taking five wickets which included a hat-trick. The Indian bowlers, despite their earlier successes, could not break the Valli-Du Plessis partnership, which ultimately became crucial in securing the draw.
Earlier in the day, India ‘A’ resumed their innings from an overnight score of 377 for 6. Shardul Thakur, who was batting at 70, could only manage to add six more runs to his score before being caught by Valli off the bowling of pacer Evan Jones. Contributions from the lower order, including Saurabh Kumar’s 22, propelled the team past the 400-run mark, finishing at 417 all out. This gave India ‘A’ a first-innings lead of 98 runs. For South Africa ‘A’, Jones emerged as the most successful bowler with four wickets, while Siya Plaatjie contributed with three wickets of his own.
The teams will now look forward to continuing the series, with the second unofficial Test scheduled to start in Benoni on December 26. As both sides regroup and reassess their strategies, this match’s result will provide South Africa ‘A’ with a confidence boost and some important lessons for India ‘A’ about the tenacity of the opposition.
This draw has definitely set the tone for an intriguing series ahead with players from both teams looking to make their mark on the international stage. Cricket enthusiasts can follow the latest updates on this South Africa vs India ‘A’ series, as well as other cricket news and future schedules including player auctions for the World Premier League (WPL) 2024. Fans are invited to be part of the conversation on social media or to stay updated with dedicated cricket apps available for both Android and iOS platforms. The anticipation for the next encounter in Benoni is palpable as both teams have shown they are capable of delivering thrilling cricket performances.