NEW DELHI: Skipper Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten half-century, a fine blend of composure, confidence and a touch of luck, kept India A in the hunt as they reached 119 for four against South Africa A on the penultimate day of the four-day encounter on Saturday.

India still require 166 runs to chase down the target of 275 after South Africa, who began the day at 30 without loss, were bowled out for 199 in their second innings. Pant (64*, 81 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes) was unbeaten at stumps alongside Ayush Badoni (0*), and the onus will be on the skipper to steer the chase on the final day.

Early blows for India

The hosts were rocked early as the South African pacers made life uncomfortable with their pace and bounce. India slumped to 32 for three, losing Ayush Mhatre, Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal in quick succession. Mhatre chopped Tshepo Moreki onto his stumps, while Sudharsan’s 38-ball struggle ended with an lbw dismissal off the same bowler. Okuhle Cele then breached Padikkal’s defence to leave India tottering.

Pant joined Rajat Patidar (28) and the pair steadied the innings with a 77-run stand for the fourth wicket. Pant counter-attacked in typical fashion, pulling Cele and lofting off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen for a six over covers. Determined to regain control, he rode his luck when Cele dropped him on 46 at fine leg off Tiaan van Vuuren. Soon after, Pant reached his fifty off 65 balls with a crisp boundary through covers, though he needed treatment for cramps later in the session.

At the other end, Patidar survived a few anxious moments — an early edge put down by Jordan Hermann and a couple of close lbw shouts — before opening up with some elegant strokes. However, his attempt to upper cut Van Vuuren went straight to wicketkeeper Rivaldo Moonsamy, drawing visible frustration from Pant at the other end.

South Africa’s batting collapse

Earlier in the day, South Africa let a strong position slip after resuming at 30 for no loss. Their aggressive approach backfired as they collapsed to 128 for six by lunch. Off-spinner Tanush Kotian (4/26) and pacer Anshul Kamboj (3/39) exploited the errors perfectly.

Zubayr Hamza began aggressively, striking five boundaries in an over off Gurnoor Brar, but his counter-attack ended when he edged Manav Suthar. Captain Marques Ackerman’s ill-judged reverse sweep against a full delivery from Kotian cost him his wicket, rattling his leg stump.

The lower order did fight back briefly, adding 64 runs for the final three wickets to push the lead past 270, giving South Africa something to defend. However, with Pant looking assured and India’s tail yet to come, the match is finely poised heading into the final day.

(With PTI Inputs)