NEW DELHI: Dhruv Jurel showcased his remarkable composure and technique with a defiant century that lifted India A to a fighting total of 255 all out after a top-order collapse against South Africa A on the opening day of the four-day match in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Put in to bat, India A found themselves in deep trouble at 126 for seven, undone by a combination of disciplined bowling and their own errors. But Jurel (132* off 175 balls, 12 fours, 4 sixes) joined hands with Kuldeep Yadav (20 off 88) to stitch together a crucial 79-run stand for the eighth wicket, steering the side towards respectability.

Jurel's innings was a masterclass in restraint and precision. Displaying flawless technique and unwavering focus, he weathered testing conditions and a probing South African attack under overcast skies. There was nothing flashy about his knock - just compact, controlled strokeplay and smart run accumulation that underlined his growing maturity as a red-ball batter.

Even the six Jurel struck off off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen over long-on wasn't a show of brute power - it was a perfect blend of timing and placement.

Later, when he slog-swept Subrayen for another six, it wasn't an expression of aggression either, but a reflection of his sharp game awareness and precise reading of the field.

On other occasions, he either leaned on his front-foot to smother the spin or waited late to turn the balls to on-side for risk-free singles.

The pacers Tshepo Moreki and Tiaan Van Vuuren (4/52) found steady bounce off the pitch here under overcast skies, but Jurel was quick to climb over the balls to guide them past the point fielder for boundaries.

Jurel flicked when the SA bowlers slanted the balls onto his pads, and pulled out drives when they pitched up to him.

On the day, his initial movement and footwork were so decisive that he seldom got stuck in no-man’s land playing the shots.

The only time he looked awful at the crease was when he attempted a lap shot in vain off Van Vuuren.

Soon the 24-year-old fetched his fourth first-class hundred with a single off Van Vuuren, much to the delight of his teammates and a few spectators who hung around the periphery of BCCI Centre of Excellence grounds.

It was also his third hundred in the last seven innings after going past three digits against Australia A at Lucknow and the West Indies at Ahmedabad.

Jurel has an equally unflappable companion in Kuldeep, who was dropped on four, in his rescue mission, as they batted 124 minutes and 173 balls across two sessions to thwart the visitors’ advance of.

He had a slight collision with SA wicketkeeper Connor Esterhuizen that required a medical check-up, and that was the lone discomforting moment during his long stay, until a mix-up with Jurel resulted in his run out.

Their partnership unfortunately did not have any top-order reflection as Sai Sudharsan (17, 52b), KL Rahul (19 off 40) and skipper Rishabh Pant (24 off 20) got out after getting starts.

Sudharsan was pinned on the back foot by Subrayen with a quicker one and Rahul’s drive off Van Vuuren ended in the big gloves of Esterhuizen.

Pant was all aggression but the desire to dominate Moreki after getting hit on his left thumb forced him to slap the pacer straight to Marques Ackermann at mid-off.

Opener Abhimanyu Easwaran did not even get a start, as he played all over an incoming delivery from Van Vuuren to be caught in front, and Devdutt Padikkal snicked the left-armer to Esterhuizen as India A withered quickly.

(With PTI Inputs)