Rishabh Pant shines with bat versus South Africa A: Details
What's the story
Rishabh Pant, the wicketkeeper-batsman, scored a quickfire half-century for India A against South Africa A on Saturday. The match is being played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru. Pant walked in when his team was struggling at 32/3 and formed a crucial partnership with Rajat Patidar to revive India A's innings. India A are 119/4 at stumps on Day 3. India A need 156 runs to win this match.
Revival
Pant is unbeaten on 64 at stumps
The duo of Pant and Patidar put together a crucial partnership, taking India A closer to their target of 275 runs. The wicketkeeper-batsman was dropped on 47 but made the most of his luck by hitting a boundary off Prenelan Subrayen to bring up his half-century. He is currently unbeaten on 64 from 81 balls. He has hit 8 fours and two sixes. Earlier, he scored 17 runs from 20 balls in the 2nd innings. Okuhle Cele dismissed him.
Pant
Pant will want to convert this into a hundred
Pant knows his job isn't done. The match is still evenly poised. The India A skipper will want to convert this unbeaten 64 to a century on Day 4. This will serve as a big confidence booster for Pant, who is playing his 1st competitive match since returning from injury. India A and South Africa A will play another unofficial Test before the senior team faces South Africa in a Test series.
Stats
Pant slams his 41st fifty-plus score in FC cricket
Playing his 74th First-Class game as per ESPNcricinfo, Pant has raced to 5,446 runs at a sensational average of 46-plus. This includes 41 50-plus scores, including 13 tons. 3,427 of his runs have come in Tests for India at 44.50. His tally of eight Test tons is the most for an Indian keeper-batter. Pant is tied with Virender Sehwag in terms of the most Test sixes for India (90).