Hanuma Vihari held fort, remaining unbeaten on 45, while Ishan Kishan scored a well-composed 49 as India A fight back in the second unofficial Test versus South Africa A at the Mangaung Oval in Blomfontein on Wednesday.

At stumps on the second day, India A were 198/5 in response to South Africa A’s first-innings total of 297.

The Indians, continuing to play amid the new Covid-19 variant in South Africa, were in trouble as they all of a sudden found themselves wobbling at 76/4 despite a strong start provided by Prithvi Shaw (42) and captain Priyank Panchal.

However, Vihari and Ishan played sensibly to keep the rival bowlers at bay and stitch a crucial 78 for the fifth wicket. For Vihari, this was another opportunity to make a major contribution and send a message across to the national selectors for their decision to not consider him for the ongoing New Zealand Test series.

So far, Vihari has faced 146 balls, hitting six boundaries. He has done well temperament-wise, not giving in to pressure after India lost four wickets for just 19 despite being well placed at 57 without loss.

If Vihari, who had saved the Sydney Test back in January with his incredible vigil on the final day, goes on to get a big hundred in this innings, his name could well be up for discussion when the selectors get down to finalising the Team India squad for the upcoming South Africa tour.

Ishan, not retained by Mumbai Indians, also had a point to prove. Though he fell short of a half-century, the situation in which the left-handed batsmen got those 49 runs and that too, at an impressive strike rate of almost 70, should augur well for him.

Ishan hit nine boundaries in his knock. Bengal’s Abhimanyu Easwaran perished off the first ball he faced.

Brief scores: South Africa A

297 (M. Jansen 70 n.o.; I. Porel 3/49, N. Saini 3/67). India A

(H. Vihari 45 batting, I. Kishan 49). Stumps, Day II