Nair ton earns India A hard fought draw

India A had little trouble in batting out the final day, losing only two wickets in the process as South Africa A had to settle for a disappointing draw in the first of two four-day unofficial Test matches in Wayanad on Friday.
After being outplayed for the first three days the home side took their overnight total of 73/2 to 309/4 before time was called with India still needing 135 runs for victory.
The Indian hero was Karun Nair who came to the crease in the 42nd over and was still unbeaten in the 108th, having scored his fifth first-class century along the way (114 off 192 balls, 18 fours and a six) in an innings that lasted almost four-and-a-half hours.
He shared partnerships of 67 for the fourth wicket with Abhinav Mukund (65 off 200 balls, 8 fours) and an unbroken 148 for the fifth wicket with Vijay Shankar (74 off 142 balls, 12 fours).
The two South African spinners, Dane Piedt and Keshav Maharaj, bowled a mammoth 79 overs between them and took the three wickets that fell to the bowling attack.
The second match starts on Tuesday of next week.
Latest
-
News
Babar Azam usurps King Kohli’s ODI Rankings crown
Babar Azam is just the fourth Pakistan batsman to hold the top spot on the ICC ODI Rankings since their inception.
-
News
Heath Streak banned for eight years over anti-corruption charges
Heath Streak is alleged to have facilitated corrupt approaches to players in both international and domestic cricket.
-
News
Sophia Dunkley excited by England’s summer Test date with India
The teams, who will meet at Bristol in June, have not played each other in the format since 2014.
-
News
Ben Stokes to miss rest of Indian Premier League with broken finger
England’s next assignment is seven weeks away.
-
News
ECB explores dropping ‘wickets’ for ‘outs’ in inaugural The Hundred edition
Discussions are ongoing about the proposal for the 100-ball competition featuring eight newly-created teams.
-
News
Jofra Archer cleared to return to light training but IPL involvement unclear
The England paceman had surgery remove a fragment of glass from his finger last month.
-
News
Kumar, Lee named ICC Players of the Month for March
The winners of the ICC Player of the Month Awards for March are India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar and South Africa’s Lizelle Lee.
-
News
We must keep women’s Test cricket alive, says England captain Heather Knight
Knight’s team will take on India in a four-day clash in Bristol in June.
-
News
Dom Bess determined to prove England worth after India struggles
Bess says he knows what he has ‘got to do now to have a successful international career’.