The visiting South Africa-A still hasn’t found a way to rein in the left-handed batsmen from the opposition.
For the second time in the series, the South Africans were tormented by a southpaw as Ishan Kishan’s brilliant innings of 55 runs dashed the visitors’ hopes for a win in the second unofficial one-dayer at the Sports Hub on Saturday.
Sharp showers in the morning and damp outfield had reduced the contest to a 21-over affair.
Chasing 163 for a win, India stuttered to a two-wicket win with an over to spare and went 2-0 up in the five-match series.
Spot of bother
Ishan walked in when his side was in a spot of bother at 57 for three in the ninth over. The diminutive batsman was on song from the moment he clubbed left-arm spinner George Linde over long-on for a massive six.
Ishan didn’t have to innovate as the predictable line of attack from South Africa-A bowlers gave his enough scoring opportunities. A couple of swept fours by Ishan off Fountin and an 18-run over from a wayward Junior Dala eased the pressure.
Captain Manish Pandey only had to rotate the strike as Ishan tore the attack to shreds. The fourth-wicket stand between Ishan and Manish added 58 runs which brought the target within reach.
Mid-innings slump
However, both Manish and Ishan perished while trying to play the big shots. India-A suffered a mid-innings slump when it lost three wickets for four runs but Krunal Panday remained unbeaten with 23 to guide the team home.
Earlier, put in to bat, the South African innings meandered along until it was given a late impetus by George Linde, who biffed a 25-ball, unbeaten 52 to take his side to a competitive total.
The highlight of Linde’s knock was the towering five sixes he hit. Linde and Klaasen (31) added 52 for the fifth wicket and South African-A amassed 72 runs in the last six overs to finish strongly. However, the total proved to be inadequate in the end.
The scores (match reduced to 21 overs) :
South Africa-A: Janneman Malan run out 6, Reeza Hendricks c Gill b Khaleel Ahmed 1, Temba Bavuma c Gaikwad b Chahal 40, Khaya Zondo b Axar 34, Heinrich Klaasen b Chahar 31, George Linde (not out) 52, Marco Jansen (not out) 5; Extras (w-1, nb-2): 3. Total (for five wkts. in 21 overs): 152
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-15, 3-63, 4-75, 5-127.
India-A bowling: Deepak Chahar 4-0-30-1, Khaleel Ahmed 4-0-38-1, Shardul Thakur 4-0-33-0, Yuzvendra Chahal 3-0-22-1, Axar Patel 3-0-19-1, Krunal Pandya 3-0-22-0.
India-A: Ruturaj Gaikwad c Malan b Beuran Hendricks 1, Shubman Gill c Reeza Hendricks b Fortuin 21, Anmolpreet Singh c Dala b George Linde 30, Manish Pandey c Reeza Hendricks b Marco Jansen 13, Ishan Kishan c Malan b Nortje 55, Krunal Pandey (not out) 23, Axar Patel c Malan b Junior Dala, Deepak Chahar c Klaasen b Junior Dala 0, Shardul Thakur run out 2, Yuzvendra Chahal not out 1; Extras (b-2, lb-1, w-2, nb-2): 7; Total (for eight wkts. in 20 overs): 163.
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-52, 3-57, 4-115, 5-131, 6-157, 7-157, 8-161.
South Africa-A bowling: Bjorn Fortuin 4-0-27-1, Beuran Hendricks 3-0-20-1, Anrich Nortje 4-0-40-1, George Linde 3-0-21-1, Junior Dala 3-0-25-2, Marco Jansen 3-0-27-1 .
