Live report - Gurnoor strikes early as SA A look to consolidate lead

Just an over after being taken for two boundaries, Suthar hits back. Hamza plays all around a full one and is bowled off a straightforward delivery drifting into middle that didn’t do a great deal off the pitch. A simple lapse in judgment, but a costly one for Hamza. He's out for 37. South Africa A 84/2, lead by 157.

That’s Rishabh Pant chirping from behind the stumps.

Zubayr Hamza responds by sweeping Suthar against the turn from well outside off and threading it through midwicket. Looking to adjust, Suthar quickens it up, but the shorter length allows Hamza to rock back and cut behind point for another boundary.

South Africa A’s lead stretches to 157, and Hamza is making it clear he won’t let Suthar settle into any sort of rhythm. They've brought up the half-century of the partnership at better than a run-a-ball.

South Africa A’s first-innings top scorer has taken a heavy toll on Gurnoor Brar, hammering him for five boundaries in a 21-run over. Only the first was streaky, he was squared up by late movement as the ball flew past gully off the edge. The rest were pure class: two elegant flicks through midwicket, a crisp cover drive, and a flashing cut over backward point. SA A 55/1, lead by 130.

Excellent opening burst from the Punjab quick. His first two deliveries had Jordan Hermann groping. Two balls nipped back sharply, the other angled across and straightened off the seam to beat the outside edge.

Then came the sucker punch: a full, inviting ball that Hermann tried to clip through midwicket, only to flick it straight to Manav Suthar, who took a sharp low catch. South Africa A are 30 for 1, leading by 105. Hermann’s second-innings stay at the crease is a short one.

An outright result looks well within reach as the first four-day fixture moves into its decisive phase. India A trail by 75 but have a real chance to wrest back control with early wickets this morning.

There’s still some swing in the air and meaningful seam movement on offer. However, Khaleel’s opening over is a letdown. Senokwane watches four deliveries sail harmlessly by outside off. India A can’t afford a loose start — the new ball is far too valuable to waste.

They've batted out 12 overs without any major alarms. Towards the end of the day's play, Tanush Kotian got the ball to turn and bounce off the rough to plenty of oohs and aahs from around the batter. But the fact is Senokwane and Jordan Hermann are unbeaten and will resume on the third day with South Africa A 105 ahead.

Prenelan Subrayen is, in every sense, a marathon man. How else does one describe a cricketer whose spirit refuses to be dimmed, even after the repeated heartbreak of being called for a suspect action? Each time he has been forced to rebuild, he has returns with more fire, more resolve, more love for his craft than before.

At 32, Subrayen’s Test career is just two matches old. Only last week, he learned he would not be part of South Africa’s squad to India. In Pakistan a month earlier, he had done his part, claiming three wickets in the first Test. Yet, when Keshav Maharaj returned from injury to rejoin Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy, Subrayen found himself relegated to the sidelines.

But in his first outing since that disappointment, fittingly, in the land of his forefather, Subrayen reminded everyone why he is so often called the marathon man. He has wheeled away non-stop for 22 overs, picking. up 5 for 61, as India A have been bowled out for 234.

One ball after being reprieved following a strong caught behind appeal, Sipamla has Anshul Kamboj hooking one straight down fine leg's throat. India A 224 for 8 as Gurnoor Brar joins the fighting Ayush Badoni.

Bowling his 17th over on a trot. South Africa A are on attack mode. Three men catching close to the bat as they look to dig into the lower order. And the close-in catchers are in business, Kotian goes jabbing and is caught at short leg. India A 183/6

Patidar is the latest to fall, bowled attempting an ambitious drive against the turn as Subrayen has his third. South Africa A have a great chance to now not just take the lead, but take a big one. India A 165/5.

Shortly after 1.30pm, Rishabh Pant walked out to bat at the fall of Sai Sudharsan’s wicket. He ran the length of the pitch in his customary style before taking strike. Suddenly, among the handful present - scorers, commentators and ground staff - there was an air of expectation.

And right on cue, he sashayed down the pitch to have a big swing first ball, only to miss. South Africa A's pacers had a clear plan of bowling short and targeting his ribs. So when spin was on, he tried to get going. He stepped out to loft Subrayen over mid-on for a boundary, but he doesn't last long.

Cele digs a short ball that Pant fends to slip. It looped up to the fielder. India A 157/4

Moreki delivers a massive breakthrough for South Africa A. Gets one to move away off the seam to have Sai Sudharsan jabbing away. He gets a thick edge and the wicketkeeper takes a superb catch diving to his left.

Sai Sudharsan didn't have any kind of fluency during his stay. He denied himself the luxury of driving against the moving ball at times, but from time to time, couldn't resist poking at one. He's gone for 32, India A 124/3.

Devdutt Padikkal is deceived in flight, and he can't clear an attempted lofted hit, finds mid-off. Padikkal gone for just 6. India A 104/2, trail by 205.

He manages to add just 8 to his lunch time score.

It's a tame dismissal - chips one to short midwicket off Prenelan Subrayen. He was on boss mode, looking in silken touch and unperturbed by swing or seam. Conditions had considerably eased out and he was looking a million bucks until this lapse in concentration.

A contest is brewing.

Lunch is nearing, but Ayush Mhatre isn't one to shut shop with an interval looming. Lutho Sipamla overpitches and he drills him back past the bowler for four.

Next ball, Sipamla bowls a similar delivery. Mhatre hits this back harder, and Sipamla puts it down on his followthrough as the ball smashes his palm.

In the next over, Mhatre brings up his half-century off 46 balls as he lofts Tiaan van Vuren over mid-off. Hitting on the up with disdain. Some exhibition this.

Sai Sudharsan has been flighting and Ayush Mhatre flying.

Sudharsan has been slightly tentative outside off, watchful and not falling to the bait of driving away from the body against a packed slip cordon.

Mhatre has been fearless, hitting through the line, driving and pulling without a trace of worry.

Sai Sudharsan survives a close run out chance trying to pinch a single to mid-off on 2 in the sixth over. He puts in a full-length dive to soil his jersey in the process. Replays show he was just in and saved due to the dive. Excellent pick up and throw from Ackermann, nonetheless.

B Sai Sudharsan has come out to open the batting with a packed slip cordon chirping away. After a slightly nervy first over, where he was tentative outside off to deliveries shaping away off the seam, he gets off the mark with a confident push into the covers off seamer Tshepo Moreki.

Ayush Mhatre has no such problems. He belts a full toss off Okuhle Cele down the ground, and crunches a half-volley through the covers off the next delivery. India A 16/0

Okhule Cele is the last man out. He was seemingly expecting a short ball, but Gurnoor Brar went wide of the crease and bowled full and straight into the stumps. The ball tailed away a wee bit to beat the outside edge and flatten the off-stump. Gurnoor belts out a roar, he finishes with two wickets. South Africa A are bowled out for 309 half an hour into the second morning.

After the emotional high of last night, where India dethroned Australia in the Women's World Cup semi-final, coming back to a calmer setting with blue skies and grass banks feels different. Not a soul in - crowds aren't allowed - and the sound of ball hitting the top part of the bat as Khaleel Ahmed bangs one short ball after another hits differently. South Africa A, resuming on 299 for 9, are now 308 for 9.

Rishabh Pant spent an entire day on the field, seemingly untroubled by his foot, as he returned to action after more than two months in rehab for a foot injury sustained while batting during the fourth England v India Test in Manchester.

N Jagadeesan wasn’t as lucky, after B Sai Sudharsan’s spikes got stuck into his right hand during a training session on match eve, forcing the selectors to summon Ishan Kishan as cover. Jagadeesan’s injury meant an opportunity at the top of the order for Ayush Mhatre, the Mumbai opener, who was originally to play only the second four-day fixture.

All eyes were on Pant right from when he arrived early and began the day with warm-ups, timed sprints and a good batting hit prior to toss, which he won to put South Africa A into bat. On a green surface at the Centre of Excellence that offered plenty of seam movement and swing, this seemed a perfectly justifiable decision. But gritty efforts from Jordan Hermann and Zubayr Hamza drove South Africa A to 299 for 9 at stumps, which they would be disappointed with because there was promise of a lot more.

Prenelan Subrayen is his latest victim, bowled attempting to drive only for the ball to spin back in to beat the inside edge and crash into the stumps. A classic off-spinner's dismissal. Tiaan van Vuren at the other end has looked to take runs at every possible opportunity. South Africa A 283 for 7 as we approach the last half hour of play.

Like younger brother Jordan, Ruben has brought up a (largely) sturdy half-century, but the reprieve on 38 costs India A just 16 as he's out bowled by a Kotian delivery that scooted low. Ruben was looking to pull but got into a tangle because the ball kept coming back in as well. South Africa A 269/6

Ruben Hermann mistimed a pull that he tried to fetch from well outside off to a Khaleel Ahmed bumper. It hung in the air for a long time, but Sai Sudharsan was a tad late in picking it up. He did well to cover ground and get to the ball but couldn't quite hold on. Ruben was on 38 with South Africa A 240 for 5 in the 67th over. How costly will it prove to be?

Rivaldo Moonsamy's stay is very brief. He's out nicking to slip attempting to drive Manav Suthar, who tossed one up beautifully and got it to rip away off the surface. South Africa A 209/5

He picked up over 90 wickets in the last three seasons combined, but wickets have been hard to come by for Tanush Kotian over the past few months.

He managed just one wicket in his outing for India A in England, and went wicketless when he played Australia A at home. In the Duleep Trophy final, he was picked away for plenty, finishing with figures of 1 for 117.

And in his only Ranji outing in Srinagar in Round-1, he managed just three wickets across two innings.

In many ways, he has been picked on reputation, not form, and it's only fair he's gotten this chance. Which is why his two wickets will do him a world of good here. He's bowled well, held his own despite being attacked early on.

It helps to have some excellent support from Manav Suthar at the other end.

Picks his second and Jordan Hermann is lbw. Kotian's drift does him in as he looks to play towards mid-on, but the ball straightens to beat the outside edge and trap him plumb in front. He was looking really good, but has to go for 71. South Africa A 192/4 at tea

Ackermann, the captain, has looked busy for much of his short stay. Playing spin well, especially the lap sweep and paddle. On 18, Tanush Kotian gets one to straighten from around the stumps. Ackermann is rapped on the pad as he looks to whip it across the line. Everyone goes up in an appeal but the umpire is unmoved. But it doesn't cost much for India A as she steps out and flicks Kotian straight to short midwicket in the next over. South Africa A 170/3

Brar has been the liveliest of the fast bowlers in view so far, and the short ball does the trick early. Hamza, though, isn't happy with the decision as he thinks he didn't glove it. He tried to drop his gloves and fend as the ball zipped past. South Africa A 136 for 2

Gets there off 85 balls with a neat, little tuck off his hip for a single. It's been an innings of two parts: he started off in a hurry, pulling anything short from Khaleel in a wayward first spell. Then played an exquisite cover drive, but since Hamza has come in, he's been the mellower of the two. SA 'A' 126/1

N Jagadeesan was originally in the squad, but he had to be replaced at the n'th hour by Ishan Kishan because of an injury at training. And that means India A will have to find a makeshift option to partner Ayush Mhatre. Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan are the contenders.

Here are some musings from Sai Sudharsan:

"It's a great responsibility [to bat at No. 3 for India], and I'm grateful for the opportunity. No. 3 is also like an opening spot. There's not a big difference, to be honest. But playing for India, wherever we get an opportunity, we have to be on point, not just fill a place but be really ready for whichever spot we play.

"We have great examples. Like KL [Rahul] bhai, who has played in almost all positions and is so versatile. We can learn from him. We have to be ready for all those challenges. I wouldn't say I prefer one or the other. I've played quite a lot at No. 3, even in the IPL, and when I was younger in the Under-14s and Under-16s also I've batted at No. 3. So I enjoy both. It's not a big difference"

Gets there off 73 balls, with seven fours and a six. He gets to the landmark by stepping out and whipping left-arm spinner Manav Suthar against the turn through midwicket. It's been a changeless knock so far.

His willingness to take on the spinners has been the standout feature. A while ago, Kotian operated from around the stumps and tossed it up with cover open. And Hamza responded by driving him against the turn through the covers.

Tanush Kotian has something to think about almost immediately as he comes on in the 19th over. He's welcomed with a cut shot by Zubayr Hamza, and then when he throws it up, he lofts him inside-out over mid-off. Kotian isn't someone to be disheartened by that, but when he tosses another up in his second over, Hamza lofts him all the way for six.

At the other end, Manav Suthar is first reverse-swept by Hermann, followed by a superb lap-sweep - Rishabh Pant style - as he gets inside the line of the ball.