BENGALURU: Skipper Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten fifty laced with impudence, patience and fortune held India A together, taking it to 119 for four against South Africa A on the penultimate day of the four-day match here on Saturday.

India still needs 156 runs to scale down the target of 275, after South Africa, overnight 30 for no loss, was bundled out for 199 in its second innings.

Pant (64 batting, 81 balls, 8x4, 2x6) and Ayush Badoni (0) were at the crease at stumps, and the former will have to play a vital role in getting India A closer home on Sunday.

The wicketkeeper-batter joined Rajat Patidar (28) in the middle when the South Africans were bowling like wind, troubling the batters with pace and bounce.

At one stage, India was 32 for three, having lost Ayush Mhatre, Sai Sudharsan and

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