BP XI vs South Africa, as it happened: Match ends in draw after Bharat, Lad fifties

Updates from day three action of the warm-up game between Indian Board President's XI and South Africa in Vizianagaram.

Dharmendrasinh Jadeja celebrates the wicket of South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis.

 

16:25

BP XI 265/8 in 64 overs

Our reporter V.V. Subrahmanyam reports: Half centuries by Srikar Bharat and Siddesh Lad helped Board President's XI finish off the three day match at 265 for eight in reply to South Africa's 279 for six. Match drawn

14:50

BP XI 199/5 in 55 overs

Bharat (36) and Lad (27) bring up their 50-run stand after the tea break. Earlier this year, Bharat slammed a hundred (117, 156b, 14x4, 1x6) against Sri Lanka-A on the first day of the second ‘Test’, at the KSCA Stadium.

14:50

BP XI 151/5 in 46 overs

Philander sees the back of Panchal, who departs for 60. He is immediately followed by Karun, who falls to Keshav Maharaj. Two apiece for Philander and Maharaj. Siddesh Lad and wicket-keeper batsman Srikar Bharat are the new batsman out in the middle. Tea has been taken.

14:00

BP XI 120/3 in 35 overs

Fifty for Panchal! The Gujarat batsman is batting on 53 off 68 balls with nine fours and a six. The 29-year-old is continuing his good form from the summer. He scored big in the first unofficial Test with a 160 against Sri Lanka A in May. That was followed up by 194 runs in six innings, which included two fifties, in West Indies with the A side. Karun Nair is in at No. 5 batting on 10.

13:24

BP XI 85/3 in 26 overs

V.V. Subrahmanyam reports: Mayank Agarwal departs, going for the slog off Keshav Maharaj only to be caught in the deep. He departs for 39.

Mayank wouldn't be too happy that. That was a great opportunity for him to knuckle down further and ease the worries of the Indian team management over the opening slots.

13:02

BP XI 60/2 in 20 overs

Panchal is flowing at the moment, batting on 25 off 27 balls. He has struck six boundaries so far, while stringing together an important stand with India's Test opener Mayank. Panchal made headlines earlier this month when he scored a super century as an opener against the Proteas A side consisting of Philander, Lungi Ngidi and Dane Piedt.

12:40

BP XI 36/2 in 15 overs

We are back for the second session and Priyank Panchal has joined Mayank out in the middle.

 

11:47

BP XI 23/2 in 10.5 overs

V.V. Subrahmanyam reports: President's XI loses second wicket of Abhimanyu Easwaran on the stroke of lunch to Kagiso Rabada, caught smartly at gully by Markram to leave the team at 23 for two. Lunch has been taken.

10:57

BP XI 2/1

Rohit Sharma falls for a second ball duck! Our reporter V.V. Subrahmanyam reports from Vizianagaram: 'Rohit Sharma out for a second ball duck as he leaned forward to drive an away going delivery from fast bowler Philander, gets an edge behind. A dismal start for President's XI two for one. Abhimanyu Easwaran, who recently smashed 153 in the Duleep Trophy, has come in at no. 3. Read Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya's (got all the As and Ys right) interview with Easwaran - Bengal's new star , who has made an impressionable journey in domestic cricket.

10:40

SA 279/5d in 64 overs

Rohit does turn to spin and Jadeja has his third wicket. Philander had smashed three more fours and added a six in the last four overs before he is out finding the hands of Rohit. He departs for 48 off 49 balls and South Africa declares to give its bowlers a good run out in the middle. Bavuma, meanwhile, is stranded not-out on 87 (127b, 13x4, 1x6) and will have to wait to score his hundred in the main one next week. It will be interesting to see how Rohit fares as an opener ahead of the series opener, too.

10:21

SA 252/4 in 60 overs

Runs continue to come at a brisk pace for the pair. They have brought up 53 runs together in 10 overs. Philander, who has eight Test fifties to his name, is doing his batting reputation no harm once again here. He moves along to 22. Bavuma is batting on 86 from 125 balls. Time for Rohit to introduce spin into the attack?

09:58

SA 227/4 in 55 overs

Venrnon Philander is the new man in and he is giving steady support for the overnight batsman Bavuma, who is marching along to his three-figure mark. Shardul Thakur, who bowled an excellent opening spell on day two, shares the ball first up with Umesh Yadav. Bavuma is batting on 76 and is warming up well for ahead of his maiden Test match on Indian soil.

South Africa innings - 199/4

 

DAY 2 REPORT - Markram, Bavuma thwart Indian bowlers

Aiden Markram made most of the huge opportunity to bat on the second day after a delayed start and scored his second consecutive century on this tour (100 retd. hurt) as South Africa scored a healthy 199 for four at close of play against Board President’s XI at Dr. P. V. G. Raju Sports Complex here on Friday.

Bad light stopped play immediately after captain Faf du Plessis was trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, 90 minutes before scheduled close of play.

AS IT HAPPENED

After wet outfield delayed the start, action finally began at 12.10 pm and opener Markram was off the blocks in a hurry, despatching fast bowler Umesh Yadav for three fours in his second over. Relishing the ball coming into him on leg-stump, the in-form opener was more comfortable and confident than a hesitant Dean Elgar.

Early breakthroughs

Shardul Thakur was more impressive than his new-ball partner Umesh, making the batsmen hurry on to the back foot with a far more accurate line, but ironically, it was Umesh who provided the first breakthrough. He squared up southpaw Elgar only to snick to gully. It was interesting to see captain Rohit Sharma check with Umesh before the start of the over whether the latter was happy with the slip cordon; the bowler respond in style, bowling to the field.

Theunis de Bruyn was trapped leg-before-wicket by pacer Ishan Porel, and Jadeja struck with his second ball to have Zubayr Hamza lbw on the shuffle. But the combine of Markram and Temba Bavuma served a reminder of their potential to counter the Indian bowlers in conditions alien to them and on a very humid and hot day.

Reminiscent of Gus Logie

Bavuma reminded the old-timers of the diminutive Gus Logie of the famed Clive Lloyd-led West Indian line-up. Importantly, Bavuma showed he has plenty of time to adjust to the pace and good bounce of the pitch with his confident back-foot play.

Markram was confidence personified as he didn’t hesitate to use his feet against the spinners. He especially treated Dharmendrasinh Jadeja with elan — carting him for a couple of sixes over long-on. He was not afraid either to pick the gaps on the offside off the pacers with superb timing.

By all means, it was classy batting by Markram and Bavuma which in a way also tested the preparedness of Umesh, who is drafted into the Indian team for the first Test from October 2 at Visakhapatnam.