At a time when the senior Indian team collectively failed as a batting unit in the just-concluded first Test against England, Agarwal shows that the country has quality players in their reserves with a masterful knock.
India A utterly dominated the second day of the first Unofficial Test against South Africa A at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. An unbeaten double-century by Mayank Agarwal and a sublime ton by Prithvi Shaw took the hosts to 411 for 2 at the close of play on Sunday.
At a time when the senior Indian team collectively failed as a batting unit in the just-concluded first Test against England, Agarwal showed that the country has quality players in their reserves with a masterful knock.
The 27-year-old from Karnataka sent the Proteas bowlers on a leather hunt through the day. He stroked four sixes and a staggering 31 boundaries in his unbeaten innings of 220 runs from 250 balls. Agarwal had enjoyed a stellar domestic season the last time around, but failed to cash in when he turned up for the Kings XI Punjab in the 2018 Indian Premier League.
Agarwal's opening partner Prithvi Shaw was in fine form as well. The 18-year-old Mumbaikar made a 196-ball 136. At stumps, Agarwal was at the crease with skipper Shreyas Iyer (9).
"I think, I have seen the best knock from the blade of Mayank. He batted really well and I expect him to get more runs under the belt," Shaw told reporters after the second days play. On his knock, Shaw said:"I played according to the merit of the ball. When I saw ball to be it, I did simply that. I have been an aggressive batsman since my school days and I play my game as such," he said.
Both Shaw and Mayank played the morning session out and took the score to 122 or no loss after they had cracked a superb half centuries. "The first session is very crucial or us. If you play that period in the morning, it is easier for the batsman afterwards because the ball comes nicely on to the bat. After that you can see our score kept moving," Shaw said.
On Saturday, South Africa A won the toss and elected to bat first. The visitors were bowled out for 246, with wicket-keeper Rudi Second top-scoring - 94 runs from 139 balls. Mohammed Siraj was the pick of the bowlers for India A. The fast-bowler took a fine five-wicket haul and ended with figures of 5 for 56 from 20.3 overs.
Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, included in the Rahul Dravid coached-team with an eye on the Test series in England, could manage to take just one wicket from 19 overs. Pacers Navdeep Saini and Rajneesh Gurbani took two wickets each in South Africa A's first innings.
Brief scores
India A first inngs 411 for 2 in 87 overs (Mayank Agarwal 220 not out, Prithvi Shaw 136; Duae Olivier 1/69, Dane Piedt 1/56) South Africa A first inngs: 246 for 8 in 88 overs (Rudi Second 94, Sarel Erwee 47; Sarel Erwee 3/56, Navdeep Saini 2/47, Rajneesh Gurbani 2/47).
(Inputs from PTI)
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 "Mayank Agarwal (L) and Prithvi Shaw in action on Sunday")
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