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Manav Suthar and Anshul Kamboj helped took India-A gain a 1-0 lead.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR
On a lively final day surface that offered assistance for the bowlers, India-A’s tail wagged. An unbroken 62-run eighth-wicket stand between Manav Suthar and Anshul Kamboj helped the host chase down a competitive 275-run target, sealing a thrilling three-wicket victory over South Africa-A in the first ‘Test’ at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Grounds here on Sunday.
Suthar (20 n.o., 56b, 3×4) and Kamboj (37 n.o., 46b, 4×4, 2×6) withstood a barrage of short-pitched bowling and, with resilient batting, steered the home side past the finish line after a few nervous moments that could easily have swung the game in favour of the visitor.
On the fourth morning, when Rishabh Pant (90, 113b, 11×4, 4×6) took strike, entertainment was guaranteed. The skipper made his intentions clear from the second ball, pummelling a full-length delivery over extra cover for a maximum. He followed it up with a couple of deft boundaries towards third-man, setting the tone for an aggressive start.
Pant continued his assault on pacers Okuhle Cele and Tshepo Moreki, sending them to all parts of the ground with effortless ease. At the other end, Ayush Badoni (34, 47, 4×4) joined in, flicking a fuller delivery through mid-wicket, following it with a glorious cover drive, and whipping another through the on-side. Together, the pair added 38 runs in the first six overs of the morning.
The first bowling change nearly produced a breakthrough. Off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen lured Pant into a sweep that went straight to backward short leg, but the fielder grassed the sharp chance — Pant’s second reprieve after a drop by Cele off Tiaan Van Vuuren the previous evening.
Van Vuuren, however, exacted his revenge, sending down a short ball that Pant top-edged to second slip, ending his entertaining innings.
Badoni and Tanush Kotian (23, 30b, 2×4) fell to bouncers as India-A slumped to 216 for seven at lunch. Badoni was dismissed by to Van Vuuren while Lutho Sipamla sent back Kotian.
After the interval, Suthar and Kamboj’s composure and patience came to the fore, guiding their side home.
The scores: South Africa-A 309 & 199 lost to India-A 234 & 277/7 in 73.1 overs (Rishabh Pant 90).
PoM: Tanush Kotian.
Published – November 02, 2025 06:00 pm IST
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Suthar and Kamboj’s heroics hand India-A a thrilling win
