Piedt takes 5, rain wins day

Cape Town - Dane Piedt captured his second five-wicket haul in successive matches, but it was the rain that had the ultimate say on the penultimate day of the second four-day unofficial test match between South Africa 'A' and India 'A' at the Krishnagiri Stadium in Wayanad on Thursday.

Only 28 overs play was possible during which time the home side added 75 runs for two wickets to extend their first innings lead to 157 runs with two wickets still in hand.

South Africa made a good start to the day when Piedt and Hardus Viljoen took a wicket each while only five runs were added to the overnight total but thereafter India stabilised their position with an unbroken ninth wicket partnership of 69 between Axar Patel (69 not out, 93 balls, 10 fours and 2 sixes), who has had an excellent all-round match, and Karn Sharma.

Piedt finished the day with figures of 5/191 in 45 overs for the 12th five-wicket haul of his first-class career.