South Africa salvaged a draw in their tour opener against the Indian Board President’s XI despite an embarrassing batting collapse on Tuesday that highlighted their potential flaws against spin bowling.
South Africa, trailing by 135 runs on the first innings, reached 172 for eight at stumps on the third and final day of their only warm-up match before the two-Test cricket series starting at Kanpur on Saturday.
South Africa had scored 226 for five declared in their first innings, and the hosts replied with 361 for six.
After reversing their batting line-up to give the lower order time at the crease, the South Africans slumped to 150 for eight — an overall lead of just 15 runs with two wickets in hand and 17 overs remaining.
The tourists averted defeat only after Jacques Kallis (12 not out) and skipper Graeme Smith (six not out) came out to bat at numbers nine and 10 and blocked for 12 overs until the match was called a draw.
Spinners claimed 10 of the 13 South African wickets to fall in the match, and none of these bowlers even feature in the Indian Test squad.
Legspinner Sairaj Bahutule finished with a match haul of 7/133.
Earlier, Indian Test squad candidate Dinesh Mongia added 13 runs to his overnight score before he was out for 148, while Hemang Badani resumed on 49 and raced to 74 not out before the local team declared their innings closed.
Badani’s unbeaten knock contained 11 hits to the fence. He shared a 154-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Mongia.
South African openers Jacques Rudolph (31) and Zander de Bruyn (35) put on 62 runs for the first wicket before the wickets began tumbling, with Power dismissing de Bruyn and former captain Shaun Pollock off successive deliveries. — Sapa-AP
Scores: South Africa (226-5 declared and 172-8) drew with Indian Board President’s XI (361-6 declared — Dinesh Mongia 148, Hemang Badani 74 not out.)