Captain Marques Ackerman led from the front with an outstanding century for South Africa A on day two of the second four-day match against India A in Bengaluru.
After bowling out the hosts for 255 on the stroke of stumps on day one, the tourists replied with 221 – of which 134 off 118 balls (17 fours, five sixes) came from their skipper’s bat.
The left-hander stood tall as wickets fell around him, keeping his team in the contest for much of the day before Okuhle Cele (2-28) and Tiaan van Vuuren (1-15) struck late to leave India A on 78-3 at stumps – an overall lead of 112.
WATCH: Ackerman’s superb century for SA A
It was an eventful day for both sides, though South Africa A will feel they could have done more after a collapse early in their innings.
Starting afresh on the second morning, they lost opener Lesego Senokwane for a three-ball duck, Zubayr Hamza for eight, and Proteas Test captain Temba Bavuma – returning from injury ahead of next week’s Test series against India – for a first-ball duck.
Bavuma was caught behind off Akash Deep (2-28), who also dismissed Senokwane, while Hamza fell lbw to Mohammed Siraj (2-61).
Jordan Hermann (20) helped steady the innings alongside Ackerman in a 64-run third-wicket stand before falling to Prasidh Krishna (3-35), the pick of the bowlers.
Wickets continued to tumble as South Africa A slipped to 121-7, but Ackerman finally found support in Prenelan Subrayen (20) as the pair added 86 for the eighth wicket to take the visitors past 200.
Siraj then ran out Subrayen, and Krishna cleaned up Cele for nought as South Africa A were bowled out in 47.3 overs.
In reply, Cele trapped Abhimanyu Easwaran lbw for nought with the seventh ball of the innings before Van Vuuren removed Sai Sudharsan (23) the same way.
Cele struck again late in the day when Devdutt Padikkal (24) was caught by Senokwane, leaving the match evenly balanced heading into day three.
Photo: Danie van der Lith/Gallo Images
