Bengaluru, Nov. 7 -- As the sun nearly dipped at the Centre of Excellence Ground 1, Day 2 of the second unofficial Test between India A and South Africa A closed with the hosts holding the upper hand - 78 for 3, leading by 112 runs - and KL Rahul standing tall, calm as a monk after a day that had earlier seen chaos and carnage.
South Africa A's innings was a study in contrasts - a tumble, a fight, and a fall again. From 12 for 3, captain Marques Ackerman turned adversity into art. His 134 off 118 balls was a counterattack for the ages - timing, courage, and conviction in one breath. Every stroke was a statement, every boundary a rebellion.
He turned the contest on its head, dismantling Mohammed Siraj with 24 in one over - three fours and ...