India A in Australia: Team effort fetches win against South Africa A

India A side in Australia

After going down against Australia A in the opening fixture of the quadrangular tournament in Australia, India A produced a complete team effort to beat South Africa A by 70 runs on Tuesday.

A 124-run third wicket partnership between Manish Pandey(91) and Manoj Tiwary (93) laid the base for the Indian side after captain Robin Uthappa won the toss and decided to bat first. The skipper failed to get going and Pandey joined Unmukt Chand (47) in the middle to ensure no further damage was affected by the South African side.

Right-arm pacer Marchant de Lange (5 for 64) removed both the set batsmen, denying them their centuries. But accelerations from Sanju Samson (24) and Ambati Rayudu (32) guided India to 326 for 7 by the end of 50 overs. Aaron Phangiso was the only Protean bowler to go at less than a run-a-ball.

In reply, South African opener Heino Kuhn dominated the 54-run opening stand that was ended by medium pacer Dhawal Kulkarni. The 25-year-old seamer rattled the middle order to make way for a convincing win. Emerging player of IPL 2014 Akshar Patel picked up one wicket for 45. Kulkarni capped off the successful night for the team with his 5/54 from 10 overs.

In the Indian innings, Bengal batsman Tiwary played with aggression, making 93 from just 73 balls with 9 fours and a six. Reeza Hendricks top scored for South Africa before he fell leg before to Parveez Rasool (2/48). Justin Ontong’s breezy knock of 48 from 40 kept South Africa in the hunt before Kulkarni ended any chances of a win.

India move to the top of the table with a superior net run-rate. Each of the four teams have played 2 matches – won one and lost one.

Brief Scores:

India A: 326/7 in 50 overs (Manoj Tiwary 93, Manish Pandey 91, Marchant de Lange 5/64);

South Africa A: 256/10 in 47.1 overs (Reeza Hendricks 52, Dhawal Kulkarni 5/54)