Axar grabs five as India-A bowl out SA-A for 260

L<g data-gr-id="25">eft-arm spinner A</g>xar Patel scalped five wickets as India A spinners bowled out South Africa A for only 260 on day one of the second and final unofficial ‘Test’ here on Tuesday.

Opting to bat at the picturesque Krishnagiri Stadium, South Africa A were cruising comfortably at 185 for two in the 59th over before losing eight wickets for 75 runs. Left-handed Test opener Stiaan van Zyl (96) missed out on a <g data-gr-id="22">century</g> but his dismissal led to a collapse as <g data-gr-id="16">Axar</g> ended <g data-gr-id="21">with with</g> figures of 5/92 in 27.5 overs. Off-spinner Jayant Yadav (3/53) also put up an improved show including the prize wicket of Quinton de Kock (0) while burly leg-spinner Karn Sharma ended with 2/36.

The South Africa A openers Reeza Hendricks (22) and Van Zyl started on a cautious note adding 58 for the opening stand. Patel then got rid of Hendricks caught by Baba Aparajith. There was another 49-run stand between Van Zyl and Gihahn Cloete (26) before the No 3 batsman became Yadav’s second victim being caught by Vijay Shankar. 

Van <g data-gr-id="20">Zyl however</g> waited patiently for loose balls as his four <g data-gr-id="19">hour</g> and 16 minute-knock had 13 fours and a six. He faced 193 deliveries in the process. His partnership with last match’s centurion Omphile Ramela (30) yielded 78 runs before Karn got into the act with Aparajith taking his second catch.But it was Van Zyl, who played through a wrong line to get bowled by Yadav and things suddenly 

changed.