Talented Karnataka batsman Karun Nair’s patient hundred ensured a hard-earned draw for India A against South Africa A in the first unofficial cricket ‘Test’ here on Friday.
Chasing a mammoth victory target of 444, the hosts were happy to bat out the day as they ended at 309 for four when the umpires decided to call off the match after consulting the two captains Ambati Rayudu and Dane Vilas.
The highlight of the final day’s play was 23-year-old Nair’s unbeaten 114 off 192 balls, which was laced with 18 boundaries and a big six.
In the company of Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar, Nair added 148 runs for an unbroken fifth-wicket stand to shut out any chances that the Proteas harboured of a win.
Shankar, on his part, contributed 74 off 142 balls with 12 boundaries to his credit.
The duo came together when India were in a bit of trouble at 161 for four in the 64th over of the innings and there was more than 50 overs left in the day at that point of time for the South African side to get the remaining six wickets.
The best part about the Nair-Shankar partnership was their positive intent as they added the runs in 43.3 overs.
In fact, the duo played first innings’ wrecker-in-chief Dane Peidt with a lot of ease. The off-break bowler managed 1/125 in 43 overs in the second innings and 5/88 in India A’s first innings.
In the morning, the Rayudu-Abhinav Mukund partnership yielded 51 runs before he was snapped up by Theunis de Bruyn. With an aim to draw the match, Mukund downed the shutters as he hardly attacked the bowling but was rock-solid in defence.
Brief Scores
SA A: 542 & 105/1 draw with Ind A: 204 (Iyer 49; Piedt 5/85) & 309/4 (Nair 114*, Shanka 74*; Keshav 2/79).