Pacer Navdeep Saini continued to impress as his three wickets helped India A restrict South Africa A to 249/7 on Day I of the third and final unofficial Test at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein.

Saini conceded 42 runs in the 19 overs he bowled on Monday. India A are being led by Hanuma Vihari in this game, as Devdutt Padikkal has come in place of regular captain Priyank Panchal.

Apart from Saini, spinner all-rounder Saurabh Kumar, who struck twice, and pacer Deepak Chahar were the other wicket-takers.

Opting to bat first, South Africa A lost captain Pieter Malan early with just 11 on the board. That was the first of Saini’s three scalps of the day.

Around an hour later, Saurabh, who bowls left-arm spin, accounted for Zubayr Hamza. The South Africans were then tottering at 44 for two wickets.

But thereafter, a composed 111-run stand between opener Sarel Erwee (75) and No.5 batsman Tony de Zorzi (58) gradually began to take South Africa A to a strong position, till a run-out dismissal broke the stand. De Zorzi was the man to depart.

Erwee and Khaya Zondo (56) then tried to forge another stand, but Saini came back really well to dismiss the opener, who was looking well placed to reach three figures.

In his very next over, Saini picked up his third, accounting for Senuran Muthusamy, who couldn’t even open his account.

From 187/3, South Africa A were suddenly 187/5 and it was purely due to the 51-run stand between Zondo and wicketkeeper Sinethemba Qeshile (22) that they could reach close to 250.

Brief scores: South Africa A 249/7 (S. Erwee 75, N. Saini 3/42) vs India A. Stumps, Day I