Riding on Mumbai off-spinner Tanush Kotian’s eight-wicket match haul and skipper Rishabh Pant’s 90, India ‘A’ outclassed South Africa ‘A’ by three wickets to win the first unofficial Test in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Kotian, 27, who dismissed SA ‘A’ captain Marques Ackerman (he scored 18 and five) in both innings, received the Player of the Match award for his 4-83 and 4-26 besides a total of 36 runs across both innings. However, Kotian revealed that Pant wanted him to remain unbeaten in the second essay. “I scored 13 in the first innings and got out on 23 in the second. He [Pant] told me that if I finish the match unbeaten, I would be a hero. Later, he said, ‘It’s alright, batsmen get out, but don’t repeat the same mistake again. Try to cash in on the opportunities.’ I got out [to pacer Lutho Simpala] after top-edging a bouncer when we needed around 50 runs to win,” Kotian told mid-day over the phone from Bengaluru on Sunday.