SA A pull off remarkable 417-run chase to share series

Half-centuries by Jordan Hermann, Lesego Senokwane, Zubayr Hamza, Temba Bavuma and Connor Esterhuizen helped South Africa A (SA A) stun India A by five wickets in the second unofficial test to steal a share of the series late on the final day in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Set an unlikely 417 for victory at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, the tourists started out day four on 25 for none with openers Hermann (91 off 123 balls, 13 balls, 1 six) and Senokwane (77 off 174 balls, 11 fours) going on to share a fine 156-run first wicket stand that laid a firm foundation.

🚨 MATCH RESULT 🚨

A remarkable run chase in Bengaluru! 💥

SA ‘A’ finished on 417/5 on Day 4 to claim victory and level the two-match Unofficial Test series 1-1 against India ‘A’. 🏏

A brilliant first-innings score of 134 (118) from captain Marques Ackerman set the tone for an… pic.twitter.com/dMb5Cuj15i

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) November 9, 2025

After their departure, Hamza (77 off 88 balls, 9 fours, 3 sixes) and Proteas test captain Bavuma (59 off 101 balls, 7 fours), returning from an injury lay-off that forced him to miss last month’s test series draw in Pakistan, put together a partnership of 107 for the third wicket to keep up the momentum.

Wicketkeeper Esterhuizen then struck a dashing unbeaten 52 off 54 balls (8 fours, 1 six) to carry his side home late on the final evening, when a maximum of three overs remained.

It was an extraordinary chase and one that helped SA A to a first-ever win against their counterparts on Indian soil in 10 attempts. They had previously lost five and drawn four of their games in the Asian country.

The result also saw the visitors earn a share of the series after they lost the first test by three wickets last week.

However, this was the perfect response and ideal preparation for the two-match test series against hosts India starting on Friday.

What will be more pleasing is that the home side included several of their national stars who will be lining up in Kolkata at the end of the week.

EXCELLENT BATTING

For now, the South Africans will enjoy the win, and it was all down to their batters for helping them get there.

Hermann was the main aggressor early on in the day, while Senokwane dropped anchor as the pair batted for 43 overs together. The partnership was finally broken by Prasidh Krishna (2-49), who had the former caught and bowled nine short of a century.

Senokwane kept going and then added 41 further with Hamza, before he fell leg before wicket to Harsh Dubey (1-111).

Then came another crucial century stand between the SA red-ball skipper and Hamza. Krishna again delivered the breakthrough just before the new ball became available when he bowled the latter.

Bavuma continued for another 37 runs in a partnership with captain Marques Ackerman, removed by Mohammed Siraj (1-53), while the former fell to Akash Deep (1-106) with 65 still to get.

That was when Esterhuizen took on the responsibility, and alongside Tiaan van Vuuren (20*), led the South Africans famously to the sixth-highest fourth-innings chase ever in a first-class game in India.