Parnell unlikely to take field on fourth day

South Africa A are likely to be without Wayne Parnell as they attempt to defend 307 and level the two-match unofficial Test series against India A. Parnell will spend his second night in hospital after complaining of shortness of breath and seeing a cardiologist. He is expected to receive the results soon.

Parnell bowled only two overs in India A's first innings before leaving the field. He was taken to a hospital where he has been since. He bowled 33 overs in the first match last week and took three wickets and was described as being as "strong as ever" by South Africa A coach Vincent Barnes a few weeks' ago.

He was also part of South Africa's T20 squad that traveled to Sri Lanka and performed admirably in the three matches. Parnell showed his ability as a death bowler, which was particularly heartening to South Africa, who have long looked for someone who can pitch it up at the death.

This is not the first injury setback Parnell has suffered. A severe groin strain he picked up in May 2010 had an effect on the number of matches he could play the following summer and he had only just started looking as though he made a full recovery. His inclusion in the A squad was part of a plan to have him playing regular cricket and eventually making a more sustained comeback for South Africa.

In his absence, South Africa A will rely on another left-armer, Beuran Hendricks, who took five wickets in the first innings, Kyle Abbott and Andrew Birch to level the series.