Quinton de Kock continued his preparation for the upcoming 72-day tour of India in brilliant fashion, smashing a hundred that put South Africa 'A' in control against India 'A' on the second day of the first unofficial Test in Wayanad, Kerala, on Wednesday.
Courtesy de Kock's 102-ball-113, which was studded with 13 boundaries and three huge sixes, South Africa 'A' posted 542 in their first essay.
At stumps, India 'A' were in a spot of bother, finishing the day on 122 for three, their openers Jiwanjot Singh (22) and Abhinav Mukund (38), and No. 3 batsman Shreyas Iyer (49) out after being well-set.
The home side needs another 270 runs to get to the magic figure of 392 and avoid the follow-on.
The follow-on score difference in a four-day match is 150.
The South African team’s decision to send de Kock to India before the senior team's visit is turning out to be a masterstroke as the stylish left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman has made full use of the opportunities he got. He scored two centuries in the tri-series of 'A' teams and now another attacking hundred.
Though Axar Patel (4-115) was India A’s most successful bowler, his bowling neither had variation nor the sting to trouble de Kock or skipper Dane Vilas, who scored 10 fours and two sixes in his knock of 75.
The de Kock-Vilas pair added 107 runs in 18.5 overs, clobbering the Indian spinners, especially off-spinner Jayant Yadav, who looked completely out of sorts at this level, giving away 177 runs in 42 overs while getting two wickets.
When the Indians batted, Jiwanjot and Mukund negotiated the first hour, adding 43 runs before off-spinner Dane Piedt got his team the first breakthrough. He bowled Jiwanjot with a turning delivery.
Mukund, who hit some attractive shots on both sides of the wicket struck a nice partnership with Iyer as they added 45 runs for the second wicket. But just when they were settling down, Mukund played Piedt down the wrong line and was bowled.
Young Munbai batsman Iyer, who looked in fine form as he struck 10 boundaries in his 49 off 61 balls, was bowled when a Wayne Parnell delivery held its line and castled him.
At stumps, Karun Nair (0) and skipper Ambati Rayudu (11) were at the crease.
Scorecard
South Africa ‘A’ (1st innings):
R Hendricks c Bains b Pandey 50
S van Zyl c Rayudu b Yadav 28
T de Bruyn c Shankar b Patel 38
O Ramela c Bains b Patel 112
T Bavuma c Yadav b Mithun 66
D Piedt c Iyer b Patel 16
Q de Kock c Pandey b Iyer 113
D Vilas c Patel b Yadav 75
W Parnell c Bains b Patel 2
K Maharaj c Mukund b Iyer 19
D Paterson not out 10
Extras: (b-4, lb-5, w-1, nb-3) 13
Total: (all out; 138.5 overs) 542
Fall of wickets: 1-60, 2-100, 3-157, 4-293, 5-307, 6-385, 7-492, 8-507, 9-525
Bowling: Mithun 23-2-78-1, Pandey 21-2-96-1, Patel 39-8-115-4, Yadav 42-3-177-2, Shankar 10-3-29-0, Nair 1-0-9-0, Iyer 2.5-0-29-2.
India ‘A’ (1st innings):
J Singh b Piedt 22
A Mukund b Piedt 38
S Iyer b Parnell 49
A Rayudu batting 11
K Nair batting 0
Extras: (lb-2) 2
Total: (for 3 wickets; 34.5 overs) 122
Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-88, 3-122
Bowling: Parnell 9.5-1-30-1, Paterson 9-1-35-0, Piedt 12-3-47-2, Maharaj 4-1-8-0.
