India defeated Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) by two wickets in a low-scoring tense encounter to qualify for the final of the Emerging Players 50-over tournament in Brisbane.
India will take on South Africa in the summit clash on August 20 after the latter defeated New Zealand comfortably by five wickets in another match.
AIS' decision to bat first backfired as Jaidev Unadkat continued his impressive show and scalped four wickets for just eight runs. Unadkat's pace colleagues, R. Vinay Kumar and Dhawal Kulkarni, picked up two wickets apiece as the Australian side was bowled out for 127 in 35.2 overs.
The host's innings never got the momentum as it lost the first six wickets for a mere 48.
It was Glenn Maxwell's counter-attacking unbeaten 50-ball 63, studded with four fours and two sixes, which took AIS beyond the 100-run mark. However, Maxwell ran out of partners as Unadkat — who finished with four for eight in 5.2 overs — returned to mop up the tail and bowl out Australia for 127.
Good start
India began its reply on a steady note with Abhinav Mukund (27) and Shikhar Dhawan (20) adding 37 for the opening wicket. Cheteshwar Pujara chipped in with 32.
However, the AIS seamers brought their side back into the match, reducing India to 95 for five at one stage and then to 121 for eight after the visitor lost three wickets for eight runs.
However, Manish Pandey (23 not out) held firm and saw India home in the 29th over.
The scores:
Australian Institute of Sports 127 in 35.2 overs (G. Maxwell 63 n.o., J. Unadkat four for eight) lost to India 128 for eight in 28.3 overs (Abhinav Mukund 27, C. Pujara 32, J. Hazlewood three for 26).
New Zealand 220 for nine in 50 overs (D. Brownlie 82, S. Stewart 26, L. Woodcock 25, C. Alexander five for 35) lost to South Africa 223 for five in 39.3 overs (R. Hendricks 39, D. Vilas 65, R. Bailey 72 n.o.).
