Rain and bad light made India A wait for another day to win the unofficial first Test against the visiting South Africa A at the Sports Hub on Wednesday.
Only 20 overs of play was possible on the third day but India A had the South Africans on the mat at 179 for nine when the play was called off due to bad light, 15 minutes before the scheduled close of play. The visitors at the end of day's play had a lead of 40 runs.
Heavy rains in the morning wiped out two sessions and play began only at 3.30 p.m. The overnight pair of Heinrich Klaasen and Wiaan Mulder didn't show any signs of discomfort and negotiated the bowling with ease.
Mulder in particular was in sparkling touch. He greeted Gowtham by loafting him over long on for a six and then square drove a boundary to show his attacking mood early. Mohammed Siraj, who was given an extended spell, failed to trouble the batsmen. Klaasen was circumspect but Mulder took the attack to the bowlers. The sixth wicket stand prospered and added 74 runs when bad light stopped play for the first time.
When play resumed after 10 minutes the Indians got the much needed breakthrough in the first over bowled by Jalaj Saxena after resumption.
A loud appeal for leg before against Klaasen was turned down by the umpire. Mulder (46) attempted a run and was send back but he couldn't beat Ricky Bhui's direct throw from short square leg.
Mulder's dismissal opened the floodgates. Jalaj had Piedt (1) caught by wicketkeeper Bharat off a ball that bounced and Marco Jansen's (0) intended drive off Nadeem ended at Gailwad's hands in the covers. Klaasen (48) soon lost patience and was caught in the deep by Shardul off Jalaj. But light deteriorated forcing umpires to call off the day's play.
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