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Markram and De Bruyn find batting form

cricket18 September 2019 13:12| © Cricket SA
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Aiden Markram © Gallo Images

Aiden Markram and Theunis de Bruyn struck some much-needed form as South Africa A enjoyed one of their better days of the series against India A in Mysore on Wednesday.

The pair shared an 82-run second-wicket stand as the tourists reached the halfway stage of the second four-day test on 159 for five.

This after earlier bowling out the hosts for 417, with three wickets apiece coming for Wiaan Mulder (3/47) and Dane Piedt (3/78).

Markram then struck an unbeaten 83 (140 balls, 12 fours) and De Bruyn hit a brisk 41 (54 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) as the away side went to stumps on day two, trailing by 258 at the Srikantadatta Narasimha Raja Wadeyar Ground.

Although a lot of work still needed to be done, it was still a much better showing by the strong South African team, which features seven players in the Standard Bank Proteas squad to face India in a three-match test series next month.

After losing the first game by seven wickets in Trivandrum, they had a tough opening day on Tuesday, before improving on Wednesday.

The Asians started out on 233 for three with Karun Nair out for his overnight score of 78 (168 balls, 10 fours) - falling to Mulder.

But Wriddhiman Saha (60 off 126 balls, 8 fours) and Shivam Dube (68 off 84 balls, 10 fours, 1 six) both hit half-centuries to carry their side into a powerful position, with Jalaj Saxena also chipping in with an unbeaten 48.

Among others in the national test squad, Lungi Ngidi (1/63) and Vernon Philander (1/45) also claimed a wicket each. Senuran Muthusamy finished with none for 86 in 14 overs.

South Africa's reply again began poorly as Pieter Malan (6) fell in the fourth over, but Markram and De Bruyn then lifted their side to 102 for one.

However, things then slipped from there as the latter's departure was followed by the cheap wickets of Khaya Zondo (5), Muthusamy (12) and Heinrich Klaasen (2). Shahbaz Nadeem (2/41) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/51) were the chief wicket-takers.

Markram, though, remained strong at the close, with Mulder (9) alongside him.

SA A four-day squad: Aiden Markram (Multiply Titans, capt), Theunis de Bruyn (Multiply Titans), Zubayr Hamza (World Sports Betting Cape Cobras), Lungi Ngidi (Multiply Titans), George Linde (World Sports Betting Cape Cobras), Pieter Malan (World Sports Betting Cape Cobras), Eddie Moore (Warriors), Senuran Muthusamy (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Marco Jansen (VKB Knights), Dane Piedt (World Sports Betting Cape Cobras), Wiaan Mulder (Imperial Lions), Heinrich Klaasen (Multiply Titans), Lutho Sipamla (Warriors), Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).

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