By Admin 
Dhruv Jurel is like that gift that keeps on giving. On day three of the second ‘Test’ against South Africa-A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence near here, the 24-year-old notched up his second century of the match (127 n.o., 170b, 15×4, 1×6) to all but bat the visitors out of the contest and heighten the clamour for his inclusion as a pure batter in India’s Test XI versus South Africa next week.
With able support from Harsh Dubey (84, 116b, 12×4, 1×6) and skipper Rishabh Pant (65, 54b, 5×4, 4×6), Jurel helped India-A declare at 382 for seven from an overnight 78 for three, setting a more-than-challenging target of 417. At stumps, South Africa-A was 25 for no loss.
India-A lost K.L. Rahul early, his off-stump uprooted by pacer Okuhle Cele. Pant came out swinging as he hit Cele for a flicked four and a six over cow corner.
But it was not long before he walked back grimacing, after being smacked on the helmet while attempting a reverse pick-up shot, on his left-arm trying a pull and then in the abdomen area.
Pant is being checked by a physio after an injury
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR
Jurel replaced Pant at the crease, and went about his business in his usual understated way, but all along ensured that his dashing captain wouldn’t be missed. With Dubey, he combined for 184 mammoth runs (250b), an association replete with glorious drives and deft steers and cuts, with a few aerial hits acting as embellishments.
Dubey was reprieved first ball at slip off Kyle Simmonds, and the left-arm spinner also missed out on dismissing Jurel on 49, for the ball, despite trickling on to the stumps, did not dislodge the bail. But for those chances, the outstation bowlers did not have as much as a sniff.
A loose drive post tea led to Dubey being caught at slip off Tshepo Moreki, but Pant’s return kept up the momentum. The India star had his left-arm strapped, but that did not prove inhibiting as he pulled and drove Tiaan van Vuuren for boundaries and whacked Moreki for a maximum.
Pant falls after playing a shot.
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR
The 82-run partnership between Pant and Jurel came at breakneck speed (54b), and should, in all probability, prove a knock-out punch.
The scores: India-A 255 in 77.1 overs & 382/7 decl. in 89.2 overs (Rishabh Pant 65, Dhruv Jurel 127 n.o., Harsh Dubey 84) vs. South Africa-A 221 in 47.3 overs & 25/0 in 11 overs.