South African opener Herschelle Gibbs rediscovered his form with a fine 79 as the South African top order batsmen warmed up for the Test series against England on the second day of the three-day match against India 'A' in Arundel on Sunday.

Replying to India's first innings score of 319, South Africa reached 342 for five, a lead of 23 runs, at stumps with
Jacques Rudolph top scoring with 83. Boeta Dippenaar was batting on 4 along with Shaun Pollock on nought.

Bowling to some of the world's top batsmen, India 'A' bowlers struggled to make an impact for most part of the day
before pace bowler Avishkar Salvi came up with two quick wickets of Rudolph and Boucher just before close of the day's play.

Gibbs, who was struggling for form, and skipper Graeme Smith (79) added 150 runs before the latter was dismissed by left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, caught brilliantly down the leg side by wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel.

It was sweet revenge for Kartik after the explosive batsman, who hit nine fours and two sixes in his 123-ball knock, carted him twice over the ropes in one over.

Soon after left-arm paceman Irfan Pathan trapped Smith plumb in front with the total on 164.

But the Indian bowlers were soon toiling hard as Gary Kirsten and Rudolph added 171 runs for the third wicket before
Kirsten was run out for 75.

Salvi finished the day with figures of 2/55 from 18 overs. Kartik who bowled 25 overs had 1/87 and Pathan 1/55 from 18 overs.

Scoreboard on the second day of the three-day cricket match between India 'A' and South Africa

India 'A' 1st Innings: 319

South Africa 1st Innings:
G Smith lbw b Pathan               79
H Gibbs c Patel b Kartik           79
G Kirsten run out                      75
J Rudolph c Patel b Salvi           83
B Dippenaar  batting                  4
M Boucher b Salvi                     0
S Pollock  batting                       0

Extras: (b:1, lb:10, nb:11)          22

Total: (for 5 wickets, 90 overs)        342

Fall of wickets: 1-150, 2-164, 3-335, 4-341, 5-341.

Bowling: Salvi 18-3-55-2, Bhandari 12-2-43-0, Kartik 25-5-87-1, Pathan 18-1-55-1, Mishra 16-0-88-0, Rayudu 1-0-3-0.