South Africa 'A' draw against India 'A' at Kimberley
Staff Reporter - 5 April 2002

In a high-scoring encounter that saw three centuries and five fifties being scored inside four days, India 'A' drew their first match against South Africa 'A' at the De Beers Diamond Oval in Kimberley.

Winning the toss, visiting captain Jacob Martin opted to put South Africa 'A' in to bat. Rakesh Patel had the dangerous Jacques Rudolph caught behind after a 40-run opening partnership, and when L Balaji got into the act by dismissing Loots Bosman 35 runs later, India 'A' were firmly in the game.

But the 243-run partnership between Martin van Jaarsveld and Hylton Ackerman that followed gave South Africa 'A' the decisive upper hand in the match. Both batsmen hit centuries, with van Jaarsveld making 128 (225 balls, 18 fours) and Ackerman striking 106 (216 balls, 10 fours, two sixes).

The runs came at a fairly quick rate as well, the partnership spanning 61 overs before van Jaarsveld was caught behind off Balaji. Ackerman fell a few overs later, also offering Parthiv Patel a catch behind the stumps.

Hashim Amla made an unbeaten 56 off 107 balls, but after the fall of two more wickets, skipper Ackerman felt that his side had enough runs on the board and declared the innings closed on 443 for six midway through the second day.

The India 'A' openers, who have impressed mightily thus far on the tour, could not repeat their success, with Amit Pagnis falling to Andre Nel cheaply. Gautam Gambhir, however, completed a tidy 50 off 92 balls before Nel took him out. Gambhir also shared in a 100-run second-wicket partnership with Mohammad Kaif.

Kaif, continuing his splending tour form, dominated the India 'A' innings during his stay at the crease, striking the ball cleanly and easily outscoring his partners at the other end. Martin made only seven out of a partnership of 49.

After hitting 21 fours and two sixes, Kaif was finally caught by a substitute fielder off the bowling of Nel, having made 136 off 184 balls. It was a sparkling innings that took full advantage of almost every opportunity to score runs.

When Yuvraj Singh (25) was dismissed with the score on 233, India 'A' looked to have lost their way, but Abhijit Kale and Parthiv Patel realised 98 runs for the sixth wicket. Kale hit a dour 75 off 188 balls, with eight fours and one six, while Patel made 69 off 120.

The India 'A' tail did little of note, and the tourists were bowled out for 408. Nel did most of the damage, picking up five wickets for 93 runs.

Batting again, South Africa 'A' had to rely yet again on van Jaarsveld's 94 (228 balls, 14 fours) and Ackerman's 43 (209 balls, five fours) for the bulk of their runs. Once the pair were dismissed, the wickets started to tumble, and at the end of the fourth day, South Africa 'A' found themselves on 203 for six. Rakesh Patel, Balaji and left-arm spinner Murali Kartik picked up two wickets each in an improved India 'A' bowling performance.

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