On a quick and bouncy BCCI's Centre of Excellence surface, Dhruv Jurel stood tall amidst ruins as India A were bundled out for 255 in 77.1 overs with South Africa A walking away a happier lot at the end of opening day of the second four-day match here.
Jurel ended the day at 132 not out (175b, 12x4, 4x6) as he ran out of partners but not before getting a good support from Kuldeep Yadav (20 off 88) as the duo saved hosts, who had packed as many as five Indian squad members in their top six, the blushes of being bowled out cheaply on Thursday.
The eighth-wicket rearguard act had stitched a 79-run partnership before Temba Bavuma's brilliance at mid-on had both players run helter-skelter, leading to Kuldeep’s run out, which put the South African frustration on hold after he was dropped on four.
Jurel, yet again, proved his batting credentials, having already answered every question that was thrown at him in Test cricket (430 runs in seven matches with an average of 47.70), playing shots with a flourish, lacing his knock with 12 fours and four sixes.
The 24-year-old had the 20-odd present outside the ground cheer in appreciation, along with applause from the dressing room when a single on the leg side took him to his third hundred in his last seven innings.
Earlier on, having been asked to bat after the coin fell South Africa’s way, there were contrasting fortunes for the two India A openers as KL Rahul started positively with three boundaries in the third over and it looked like the tone had been set for the day.
However, Abhimanyu Easwaran (0), in the middle of an average Ranji Trophy season, scoring just 116 runs in four innings, got a beauty from Moreki, which pitched on the fourth stump and moved in to trap him in front.
Rahul, joined by Sai Sudharsan, continued to be active, picking up singles as and when he pushed balls into the gaps.
With some variable bounce, a Tiaan van Vuuren delivery forced Rahul to poke one outside off, which went straight into Connor Esterhuizen's gloves.
Prenelan Subrayen then got into the act, pitching it on a length as Sai Sudharsan (17) was pinned on the back foot, with the ball hurrying onto him after pitching. Devdutt Padikkal (5), who came in at No.4, endured another failure.
The focus then shifted to Rishabh Pant (24) and his fitness after returning to the Indian squad for the South Africa Test series.
The skipper looked comfortable and, in true Pant fashion, pulled van Vuuren off a good length to get his first boundary. He then swept Subrayen for a four and then charged him the very next ball for a six down the ground.
The dressing room survived a scare in the 26th over when Moreki hit Pant's left thumb. The incident prompted the physio to rush into the ground as a precautionary measure. Things did go south as Pant, the very next ball, walked back, after hitting it straight to mid-off.
SCOREBOARD
INDIA A (I Innings): Abhimanyu Easwaran lbw Moreki 0 (3b), KL Rahul c Esterhuizen b van Vuuren 19 (40b, 3x4), Sai Sudharsan lbw Subrayen 17 (52b, 3x4), Devdutt Padikkal c Esterhuizen b van Vuuren 5 (12b), Rishabh Pant c Ackerman b Moreki 24 (20b, 3x4, 1x6), Dhruv Jurel (not out) 132 (175b, 12x4, 4x6), Harsh Dubey b van Vuuren 14 (28b, 2x4), Akash Deep b Subrayen 0 (10b), Kuldeep Yadav (run out) Bavuma 20 (88b, 1x4), Mohammed Siraj c Esterhuizen b Cele 15 (31b, 3x4), Prasidh Krishna c&b van Vuuren 0 (4b). Extras (LB-3, B-4, W-2) 9. TOTAL (all out, 77.1 overs) 255.
Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Easwaran), 2-37 (Rahul), 3-41 (Sudharsan), 4-59 (Padikkal), 5-86 (Pant), 6-119 (Harsh), 7-126 (Akash), 8-205 (Kuldeep), 9-239 (Siraj)
Bowling: Okuhle Cele 16-6-57-1, Tshepo Moreki 18-2-52-2 Prenelan Subrayen 19-1-73-2, Tiaan van Vuuren 16.1-2-52-4, Kyle Simmonds 8-1-14-0.
Cut-off box - SCOREBOARD INDIA A (I Innings) Abhimanyu Easwaran lbw Moreki 0 (3b) KL Rahul c Esterhuizen b van Vuuren 19 (40b 3x4) Sai Sudharsan lbw Subrayen 17 (52b 3x4) Devdutt Padikkal c Esterhuizen b van Vuuren 5 (12b) Rishabh Pant c Ackerman b Moreki 24 (20b 3x4 1x6) Dhruv Jurel (not out) 132 (175b 12x4 4x6) Harsh Dubey b van Vuuren 14 (28b 2x4) Akash Deep b Subrayen 0 (10b) Kuldeep Yadav (run out) Bavuma 20 (88b 1x4) Mohammed Siraj c Esterhuizen b Cele 15 (31b 3x4) Prasidh Krishna c&b van Vuuren 0 (4b). Extras (LB-3 B-4 W-2) 9. TOTAL (all out 77.1 overs) 255. Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Easwaran) 2-37 (Rahul) 3-41 (Sudharsan) 4-59 (Padikkal) 5-86 (Pant) 6-119 (Harsh) 7-126 (Akash) 8-205 (Kuldeep) 9-239 (Siraj) Bowling: Okuhle Cele 16-6-57-1 Tshepo Moreki 18-2-52-2 Prenelan Subrayen 19-1-73-2 Tiaan van Vuuren 16.1-2-52-4 Kyle Simmonds 8-1-14-0.