Press Trust of India
Wayanad, August 28: Left-arm spinner Axar Patel scalped four wickets without conceding a single run in a destructive spell as India A clinched the unofficial Test series 1-0 against South Africa A with an imposing innings and 81 runs victory in the second and final match at the Krishnagiri Stadium here Friday.
The hosts declared at the overnight score of 417 for eight before bundling out South Africa for a mere 76 on the final day.
Patel was the wrecker-in-chief in a deadly spell during which he bowled six maidens and dismissed key opposition batsmen to destroy the visiting side.
The left arm spinner bagged a total of nine wickets in the match. Besides Patel, off-spinner Jayant Yadav (2/10) was right on the money, while Shardul Thakur, Karn Sharma and Baba Aparajith accounted for a wicket apiece.
Patel gave India the breakthrough in the fourth over itself when he bowled Reeza Hendricks for one. The early wicket triggered the collapse and by the 16th over, the top and middle order of the visiting side was back in the pavillion, leaving them reeling at 33 for four.
Quinton de Kock tried to steady the ship, top-scoring with 20 but South Africa A kept on losing wickets at the other end. There was hardly any resistance from Temba Bavuma, Omphile Ramela and Dane Vilas – all of whom fell in quick succession.
Even de Kock failed to sustain till the end and lost his wicket to Jayant’s bowling. Thereafter Karn trapped Lonwabo Tsotsobe in front to end South Africa A’s innings in just 31.4 overs, even as the last man — Beuran Hendricks — could not come out to bat following an injury that he had sustained while bowling.
Brief Scores
South Africa 260 and 76 (Axar Patel 4/0) lost to India 417 for 8 decl. by an innings and 81 runs.