Jurel 132* headlines India A's 255 all out on opening day

South Africa A bowled India A out for 255 at the stroke of Stumps on Day 1 of the second Unofficial Test at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. India A were rescued by Dhruv Jurel, who struck an unbeaten 132, after suffering a batting collapse.

Asked to bat first, India A were dealt an early blow when Tshepo Moreki trapped Abhimanyu Easwaran LBW in the second over. KL Rahul responded sharply by striking three boundaries off Okuhle Cele in the third over. Rahul and Sai Sudharsan combined to blunt the new ball but fell in quick succession, leaving India A in trouble at 41/3 in the 17th over. Their concerns only grew when Devdutt Padikkal was out edging behind to the keeper shortly thereafter.

There was a brief influx of positivity for the hosts when Rishabh Pant was at the crease. His breezy 24 came off just 20 deliveries and included three fours and a six but his dismissal in the second over after Lunch left India A firmly on the backfoot at 86/5. While Jurel held fort at one end, both Harsh Dubey and Akash Deep fell in short intervals to leave India in peril at 126/7.

Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav, however, provided the resistance the hosts had lacked earlier. The duo took their side to 156/7 at Tea and kept the fight going upon resumption. Their 79-run stand came to an end when Kuldeep was run-out in the 66th over. Jurel brought his century up shortly thereafter and shared another critical 34-run partnership with Mohammed Siraj. Jurel remained unbeaten on 132 with Prasidh Krishna being the last man to fall. Tiaan van Vuuren was the pick of the South Africa A bowlers with figures of 4-52.

Brief Scores: India A 255 (Dhruv Jurel 132*, Rishabh Pant 24; Tiaan van Vuuren 4-52) vs South Africa A