Panchal & Bharat fire after opener Rohit falls for duck
Vizianagaram, Sept. 28: Rohit Sharma’s trial run as an opener lasted only two deliveries as he left without troubling the scorers in a drawn three-day warm-up game between Board President’s XI and South Africa here on Saturday.
Test aspirants Priyank Panchal (60, 77 balls) and keeper batsman Kona Bharat’s quickfire 71 off 57 balls were the highlight of Board President XI’s 265 for 8 in 64 overs. Mumbai batsman Siddhesh Lad (52) also helped himself to a halfcentury after South Africa declared their first innings at 279 for 6. Temba Bavuma (87) remained unbeaten, while Vernon Philander (48 off 49 balls) added quick runs to the total.
All eyes were on Rohit during the final day of the game as he came out to open alongside Mayank Agarwal (39). Seamer Philander got his delivery to move a shade and Rohit edged one to substitute keeper Heirich Klaasen, who kept wickets instead of Quinton de Kock. It was an ideal situation to get quality
batting time ahead of the first Test but Rohit fluffed his lines at the onset.
With selectors promising him the full series and a fair run, India’s limited overs vice-captain will like to put up a better account of himself during the first Test in Visakhapatnam, starting on October 2. While Kagiso Rabada is their strike bowler, Philander with his ability to swing the new ball both ways could prove to be a bigger threat for Rohit, who is not exactly big on feet movement during the initial part of the innings.
The first four batsman in the order (now that includes Rohit) were all openers and Agarwal and Panchal had a better day in office compared to Rohit and Abhimanyu Easwaran (13). Easwaran was dismissed by Rabada, caught by Aiden Markram and then Gujarat’s Panchal joined forces with Agarwal.
Brief Scores: South Africa 279/6 decl (Aiden Markram 100 retd out, Temba Bavuma 87 not out, Vernon Philander 48, Dharmendra Jadeja 3/66) drew with Board President’s XI 265/8 (Rohit Sharma 0, KS Bharat 71, Priyank Panchal 60, Siddesh Lad 52 not out, Vernon Philander 2/27, Keshav Maharaj 3/35).