India A set stiff victory target of 307

India A were set a stiff target of 307 in the second and final unofficial Test after South Africa A declared their second innings at 166 for five on the third and penultimate day. 

At stumps on Monday, India A were three for one, needing 304 more runs to win. Captain Cheteshwar Pujara was batting on two while nightwatchman Shahbaz Nadeem was yet to open his account. 

Opener Murali Vijay failed for the second time in the match after he was bowled for a duck off Beuran Hendricks in the second over. He had scored just four in the first innings.

It will not be an easy task for the Indians, who have rested the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma, to score the remaining runs on Tuesday. 

India A, who had won the first Test by an innings, struggled to dismiss South Africa A batsmen who played without taking much risk. 

Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem took three wickets for 56 runs while off-spinner Parvez Rasool and pacer Ishwar Pandey got a wicket apiece. 

Opener Dean Elgar was South Africa A’s top-scorer with a 156-ball 62 while skipper Justin Ontong contributed 35. The hosts played sedately in their second innings. While openers Reeza Hendricks (22) and Elgar added 53 for the first wicket, Nadeem accounted for the former after he edged offered a catch to Dinesh Karthik. 

Earlier in the day, India A were all out for 201 to concede a sizable 140-run lead.