Axar Patel heroics give India A innings victory over South Africa A

Axar Patel’s return of 9 wickets and 69 runs with the bat earned him the Man of the Match award

Axar Patel capped off a brilliant match display with dream figures of 6-6-0-4 in South Africa A’s second innings as India A defeated the visitors by an innings and 81 runs in the second unofficial Test at Wayanad. The left-armer had picked up five wickets in the first innings and starred with the bat as well remaining unbeaten on 69 in India’s lone outing with the bat and deservedly bagged the Man of the Match award.

With the first Test ending in a draw, India A clinched the two-match series 1-0.

The visitors didn’t have any answers to the Indian bowlers with only Stiaan van Zyl and Quinton de Kock reaching double figures as they were skittled out for just 76 runs in their second innings. Van Zyl shined in the first innings as well with a knock of 96 that helped the South Africans post a total of 260. With India posting 417 in their first innings, thanks to half-centuries by Jiwanjot Singh, Abhinav Mukund and skipper Ambati Rayudu along with Patel, the visitors endured a crushing innings defeat.

The South African batting which had posted a mammoth 542 in the first unofficial Test at the very same venue failed spectacularly this time out with Patel turning out to be their main tormenter with 9 wickets in the match. In fact, the visiting batsmen struggled against the other spinners as well with all ten wickets in the first innings and nine in the second innings falling to the slower bowlers.

Skipper Ambati Rayudu would have been delighted by the way his team responded after being the second best team in the first Test. All but tail-ender Jayant Yadav reached double figures for India while the spin trio of Patel, Karn Sharma, and Yadav bowled the visitors out of the game.