Pretoria, Aug 27 (IANS) South Africa A defeated India A by 121 runs at the L.C. de Villiers Oval here Tuesday to level the two-match four-day Test series 1-1.
Chasing a target of 304, India A resumed the day at 3/0 in their second innings but could only manage 185 before being bowled out by the hosts.
A very poor batting performance saw India A lose five wickets within 10 overs and be at 18/5 in the morning.
However, middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane (86) and wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha (77 not out) gave India some hope as they struck together a 160-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Only when things starting looking up with the score at 178/5, Rahane was bowled out and India lost the last five wickets shamefully in the next seven runs. No other batsman managed to get into double figures with four of them walking back to the pavilion for a duck.
Left arm pacer Beuran Hendricks performed brilliantly for South Africa A clinching six wickets for 27 runs in 17 overs. He was given good support from the other end of the wicket by offie Simon Harmer who ended with figures of 3/79.