Cricket / Shardul Thakur and Nathu Singh make their mark
The potential of Shardul Thakur and Nathu Singh against an international side showed itself up in the opening session of the two-day warm-up game against South Africa at the Brabourne Stadium. Thakur may have even climbed a notch or two and could be considered as a replacement should there be an exigency caused by injury to any among the present set of pace men in the national squad.
The two-day match ended in a draw, with South Africa taking a six-run lead and the home team making 92 for no loss.
The pocket-sized Thakur seized an opportunity to show his mettle and largely succeeded capturing four wickets with the new ball — two in the last session on Friday and two in his opening burst on Saturday.
Nathu Singh took time to get his rhythm and accuracy and there were odd instances when he gave glimpses of possessing special deliveries to rattle batsmen at the highest level.
He dismissed a well settled left-handed opener Dean Elgar with a genuine wicket-taking delivery.
After an excellent demonstration of fast, seam bowling by Thakur and Nathu Singh that reduced South Africa to 57 for five by the 16th over, A.B. de Villiers (112, 208m, 131b, 18 x 4s) took the centre-stage and stamped his authority with a fourth century in the ongoing tour; he had scored centuries in the one-day internationals played at Kanpur, Chennai and Mumbai.
The attacking right-hander was involved in two recovery partnerships with Temba Bavuma (54 for the sixth wicket) and with Dane Vilas (115 for the seventh wicket).
From the home team’s point of view the focus was on Thakur and Nathu Singh.
The Mumbai speedster who recently crossed 100 first class wickets, trapped Faf du Plessis leg-before with a yorker. Thereafter he sent back captain Hashim Amla with an outswinger that took the edge of the bat and landed into the hands of Karun Nair in the first of the slip cordon.
The South African team coach Russell Domingo said that there is nothing to worry about leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who appeared to have hurt his non-bowling hand when Rahul hit a firm shot in the second innings.
The scores: Board President’s XI — 1st innings: 296.
South Africa — 1st innings: Stiaan van Zyl c Chand b Thakur 18, Dean Elgar c Chand b Nathu Singh 23, Simon Harmer c Ojha b Thakur 4, Faf du Plessis lbw b Thakur 4, Hasim Amla c Nair b Thakur 1, A.B. de Villiers b Jayant 112, Temba Bavuma c Chand b Pandya 15, Dane Vilas b Jayant 54, Vernon Philander b Kuldeep 12, Dale Steyn b Kuldeep 37, Kagiso Rabada (not out) 1, Extras (b-7, lb-1, nb-7, w-6) 21; Total in 69.2 overs: 302.
Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-46, 3-54, 4-57, 5-57, 6-111, 7-226, 8-259, 9-285.
Board President’s XI bowling: Shardul Thakur 16-3-70-4, Nathu Singh 14.4-2-56-1, Hardik Pandya 14-1-64-1, Karn Sharma 8-0-43-0, Jayant Yadav 8-2-37-2, Kuldeep Yadav 8.4-0-24-2.
Board President’s XI — 2nd innings: K. L. Rahul (not out) 43, Cheteshwar Pujara (not out) 49; Total: (for no loss in 30 overs) 92.
South Africa bowling: Simon Harmer 10-2-24-0, Dane Piedt 10-3-32-0, Imran Tahir 5-0-25-0, Dean Elgar 5-0-11-0.
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