Pretorius enhanced his chances of a Test place with 3-41

South Africa hit back strongly in the final session after an uncomfortable start to their final warm-up game before the Test series against England.

They were on the receiving end as Gautam Gambhir hit a sparkling 64 off 69 balls and Wasim Jaffer consolidated India A's good start by batting for over three hours for 90.

They reached 251-3 but a three-wicket burst by pace bowler Dewald Pretorius revived South Africa, who worked their way through the tail with Shaun Pollock returning figures of 4-46.

India A chose to bat first after winning the toss despite the prospect of facing Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini with the new ball.

Former captain Pollock was included in the South African team after a trip home to see his pregnant wife following last weekend's NatWest Series final.

But neither he nor Ntini could separate Gambhir and Shiv Das, who put on 93 for the first wicket.

The breakthrough was eventually made by left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, who had Gambhir caught by Gary Kirsten.

India A continued to make smooth progress after lunch with Das and Jaffer sharing a half century stand.

Wasim Jaffer played some stylish strokes for India A

Pollock returned to separate them by having Das caught behind for 33 with the total on 144 but another good partnership followed between Jaffer and Hemang Badani.

Paceman Monde Zondeki's first four overs were expensive but he was recalled to the attack shortly before tea and atoned by dismissing Badani for 23, with wicket-keeper Mark Boucher taking his second catch of the day.

Youngster Ambati Rayudu hit two sixes in his 32 before falling lbw to Pretorius, who followed up by bowling Parthiv Patel for eight and then ended Jaffer's innings with the help of a catch by Graeme Smith.

Ntini achieved his first success of the day by removing Murali Kartik for 16 and Pollock added the last three wickets in the final overs before the close.

South Africa: H H Gibbs (Capt), G C Smith, G Kirsten, J A Rudolph, H H Dippenaar, M V Boucher (Wkt), S M Pollock, D Pretorius, R J Peterson, M Ntini, M Zondeki.

India A: S S Das (Capt), G Gambhir, W Jaffer, H K Badani, A T Rayudu, P A Patel (Wkt), A Mishra, M Kartik, I K Pathan, A Bhandari, A M Salvi.