South Africa A hold all the aces against India A
Staff Reporter - 7 April 2002

A strong batting performance from South Africa A has seen them wrest the advantage in their four-day encounter against India A at Goodyear Park, Bloemfontien.

When stumps were drawn at the end of the second day, the hosts were 313 for four in reply to India A's first innings score of 291.

In the morning, South African fast bowler Dewald Pretorius claimed the last two Indian first innings wickets for the addition of just seven runs to the overnight score. The young fast bowler, who grew up in an orphanage, bowled with great heart to claim six wickets. He might still prove Allan Donald right and step into the South African fast bowling great's shoes in the coming years.

When South African A replied, it was the turn of another young man with a lot of promise to impress the gathering. Jacques Rudolph had come desperately close to turning out for South Africa against Australia a short while ago. On Saturday, he was to provide yet another glimpse of his potential, stroking 14 boundaries and one six on his way to 97 before being bowled by left-arm spinner Murali Kartik.

Rudolph's partnerships of 62 runs for the first wicket with fellow-opener Puttick and 101 runs for the second wicket with Martin van Jaarsveld ensured that the hosts had a solid platform to build upon. Jaarsveld made 57 off 100 balls with eight fours and one six before falling to leg-spinner Amit Mishra.

By the time Rudolph was dismissed, India had clawed their way back into the game and looked set to restrict the home team batsmen. But 19-year-old Hashim Amla (54*), another young man who has strung together a list of impressive scores, and Robin Peterson (55*) put paid to the tourists' hopes, putting on 108 for the unbroken fifth wicket stand and giving their team the whip hand in the match.

For India A, Kartik claimed two wickets while Mishra and Debasis Mohanty shared the remaining two.

With two days of play left, South Africa A would now be hoping to rattle up a massive first innings lead before letting their bowlers loose on an Indian top-order that struggled in the first innings.

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