Samarth, Iyer build for India A

The two hit half-centuries to lay a solid foundation to their team’s first innings.

Shreyas Iyer is currently batting on 56.

Ravikumar Samarth and Shreyas Iyer struck half-centuries to lead India A’s strong reply to South Africa A’s 322 in the second and final ‘unofficial’ Test on Sunday. At stumps on the second day, India was 181 for three.

While Samarth was dismissed by fast bowler Dane Paterson after scoring 77 off 113 balls, Iyer remained unbeaten on 56 off 74 balls. Earlier in the day, India did well to bowl out the host which finished the first day at 258 for five.

Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem was the most successful bowler for the visiting side, returning figures of 4 for 118, while Haryana medium-pacer Navdeep Saini bagged 3 for 66. The hosts lost wickets at regular intervals after a 167-run opening partnership between Stephen Cook (98) and skipper Aiden Markram (74).

For India, Sudip Chatterjee contributed 46 and was involved in a 106-run partnership with Samarth.