Prenelan Subrayen claimed five wickets as South Africa A bowled their way into a strong position at the halfway stage of the first four-day match against India A.
After a solid opening day with the bat at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, the tourists bowled the hosts out for 234 on Friday to earn a 75-run lead, with the Proteas spinner leading the attack with his 5-61.
Openers Jordan Hermann (12*) and Lesego Senokwane (nine not out) then negotiated a tricky 12-over spell late in the day to ensure the visitors went to stumps on 30-0, an overall lead of 105.
The South Africans started day two on 299-9 and lost Okuhle Cele for six after nine more were added to the total. Tanush Kotian (4-83) ended as the pick of the bowlers for the home side.
Sai Sudharsan (32) and Ayush Mhatre (65 off 76 balls, 10 fours) then gave India A a fine start with an opening stand worth 90 as the South African bowlers toiled hard early on.
Subrayen, part of the Proteas’ Test series draw in Pakistan a few days earlier, eventually made the breakthrough in the 22nd over by dismissing the latter, followed by the wicket of Devdutt Padikkal (six) shortly after.
Tshepo Moreki (1-42) then accounted for Test batsman Sudharsan as the home side slipped to 124-3.
India’s No 1 Test wicketkeeper and captain of their A side Rishabh Pant was next in and added a quick-fire 17, before falling to Cele (1-42) after adding 33 for the fourth wicket, with the only significant lower-order contribution coming from Ayush Badoni (38).
He was removed by Lutho Sipamla (2-35), but it was all Subrayen from there as the KZN Dolphins star went on to complete a 13th career five-for.
The other wicket-taker for South Africa was Tiaan van Vuuren (1-35), before the two openers dug in to end the day strongly.
