The Hindu : Sport : India ‘A’ pulls off a thrilling one-run win

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Sport

India ‘A’ pulls off a thrilling one-run win

Principal Correspondent

Badrinath came up with a good all-round show (88 n.o. and four for 43)
India ‘A’ clinched the series

Rajkot: Mohammad Kaif collected the rebound and dived to dislodge the stumps at the non-strikers end. Johan Botha was run out and the Sunday crowd here at the Madhavrao Scindia Stadium went delirious as India ‘A’ had pulled off a one-run victory over South Africa ‘A’ in the third and final one-dayer.

South Africa ‘A’ was bowled out for 289 in 50 overs chasing India A’s 290 for six in 50 overs.

And with the first two one-dayers having been washed out, India ‘A’ won the series 1-0.

Badrinath shines

The win was fashioned by a fine all-round performance by S. Badrinath (88 n.o. and four for 43) and his 144-run sixth-wicket partnership with skipper Kaif (98) that helped India ‘A’ post 290.

In the last over bowled by seamer Praveen Kumar, with the last-wicket pair of Johan Botha (32) and C. Langeveldt in the middle, it boiled down to 10 from three deliveries.

Botha scooped one over short fine-leg and another over mid-wicket and needed just two from the final delivery. Botha drove, found his shot graze Praveen’s arm and Kaif did the rest.

“To get back from 105 for five and score 290 was a key factor and credit to Badri and the boys,” Kaif said.

Badrinath said: “Kaif and I wanted to play safe as we were the last recognised pair and then I played my shots.

“As for my bowling, I knew there was a bit of a rough on the pitch and it was a good opportunity.”

Top order stumbles

In the morning, India ‘A’ suffered a stuttering top-order. However Kaif (98, 123b, 9x4, 2x6) and Badrinath (88 n.o., 89b, 6x4, 2x6) salvaged the innings.

Kaif slammed Botha’s off-breaks into the stands and Badrinath, whipped Morkel and Vernon Philander in the arc between square-leg and long-on.

South Africa ‘A’ found its initial runs through A. Petersen (56) and southpaw Gulam Bodi (54).

Later as the chase dissipated with spinners left-armer Pragyan Ojha, leg-spinner Amit Mishra and off-spinner Badrinath operating, Albie Morkel (61, 55b, 5x4, 3x6) along with a tail, threatened to pull off an improbable victory.

The scores: India A: Praveen Kumar c C. Langeveldt b R. Kleinveldt 1, C. Pujara c T. Tsolekile b Kleinveldt 0, M. Kaif c J. Botha b V. Philander 98, P. Patel c J. Ontong b Lnageveldt 15, S. Raina c Langeveldt b A. Morkel 45, M. Tiwary c Tsolekile b Morkel 4, S. Badrinath (not out) 88, A. Mishra (not out) 22; Extras: (nb-4, w-13) 17. Total: 290 (for six in 50 overs).

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-26, 4-98, 5-105.

South Africa ‘A’ bowling: Langeveldt 9-0-67-1, Kleinveldt 8-2-34-2, Philander 9-0-48-1, Morkel 10-0-64-2, Botha 8-0-57-0, Ontong 5-0-20-0.

South Africa ‘A’: Morne Van Wyk b Praveen 4, A. Petersen c Badrinath b Mishra 56, G. Bodi c (sub) Aniruddha b Badrinath 54, B. Dippenaar st Parthiv b P. Ojha 6, J. Ontong b Badrinath 20, A. Morkel (run out) 61, V. Philander c Yomahesh b Badrinath 7, T. Tsolekile c A. Mishra b Badrinath 24, J. Botha (run out) 32, Kleinveldt b Praveen 15, Langeveldt (not out) 3; Extras: (nb-1, b-2, lb-4) 7. Total: 289 (all out in 50 overs).

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-90, 3-109, 4-136, 5-148, 6-180, 7-223, 8-241, 9-270.

India `A’ bowling: Praveen Kumar 10-3-51-2, Ishant 6-0-40-0, Yomahesh 3-0-21-0, Ojha 10-0-57-1, Mishra 9-0-56-1, Badrinath 10-0-43-4, Kaif 2-0-15-0.

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