The fans savoured a perfect weekend outing at the Chinnaswamy Stadium as India ‘A’ defeated West Indies ‘A’ in the lone Twenty20 game here on Saturday.
The host hammered 214 for seven in 20 overs and a 93-run victory was secured after the West Indians’ lop-sided chase ground to a halt at 121, while leg-spinner Rahul Sharma sparkled with five wickets.
Yuvraj Singh’s decision to bat found vindication through a 70-run partnership between openers Robin Uthappa (35) and Unmukt Chand (47). The tempo was set in the very first over as Uthappa swatted a six off Ronsford Beaton and Chand too joined the act, hoisting Veerasammy Permaul.
The West Indian fielders also helped, as Chand was dropped twice — on 22 (Nikita Miller) and on 42 (Jonathan Carter).
After racing to 70 for no loss in six overs, India ‘A’ suffered a lull once Uthappa, Chand and Baba Aparajith departed. Yet with Yuvraj (52, 35b, 4x4, 3x6) flourishing at the crease, there was nothing to fear.
Starting sedately, Yuvraj eventually pummelled Andre Russell for two sixes. The southpaw also found support from Kedar Jadhav (42) and the duo shared an 80-run fourth-wicket partnership off 38 balls.
India ‘A’ was so well set for a huge total that even Russell’s four wickets on the trot — Jadhav, Yuvraj, Naman Ojha and Yusuf Pathan — off the first four deliveries of the 19th over, hardly dented the host.
The scores:
India ‘A’: Robin Uthappa lbw b Permaul 35 (21b, 1x4, 3x6), Unmukt Chand c Edwards b Nurse 47 (29b, 4x4, 2x6), Yuvraj Singh c Powell b Russell 52 (35b, 4x4, 3x6), Baba Aparajith c Edwards b Nurse 3 (4b), Kedar Jadhav c Bonner b Russell 42 (21b, 4x4, 2x6), Yusuf Pathan c Fletcher b Russell 0 (1b), Naman Ojha c Permaul b Russell 0 (1b), Sumit Narwal (not out) 18 (7b, 1x4, 1x6), R. Vinay Kumar (not out) 1 (1b); Extras (lb-1, w-15): 16; Total (for seven wkts. in 20 overs): 214.
Fall of wickets: 1-74 (Uthappa), 2-94 (Unmukt), 3-109 (Aparajith), 4-189 (Jadhav), 5-189 (Yuvraj), 6-189 (Ojha), 7-189 (Yusuf).
West Indies A bowling: Beaton 4-0-58-0, Russell 4-0-45-4, Miller 2-0-28-0, Permaul 4-0-35-1, Nurse 4-0-18-2, Bonner 2-0-29-0.
West Indies A: Andre Fletcher b Rahul 32 (22b, 2x4, 1x6), Kieran Powell c Jadhav b Vinay 8 (3b, 2x4), Nkrumah Bonner c Unmukt b Unadkat 18 (11b, 1x4, 2x6), Kirk Edwards c Yusuf b Rahul 0 (1b), Jonathan Carter c Aparajith b Yuvraj 6 (6b, 1x6), Devon Thomas c Ojha b Rahul 21 (25b, 1x4), Andre Russell c Unmukt b Yuvraj 12 (5b, 1x4, 1x6), Ashley Nurse c Uthappa b Rahul 16 (15b, 1x6), Veerasammy Permaul c Unmukt b Vinay 1 (3b), Nikita Miller (not out) 4 (4b), Ronsford Beaton c Unadkat b Rahul 0 (3b); Extras (lb-1, w-2): 3; Total (in 16.2 overs): 121.
Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Powell), 2-49 (Bonner), 3-55 (Edwards), 4-62 (Carter), 5-65 (Fletcher), 6-80 (Russell), 7-115 (Nurse), 8-117 (Thomas), 9-119 (Permaul)
India A bowling: Yusuf 1-0-19-0, Vinay 3-0-22-2, Unadkat 2-0-11-1, Rahul 3.2-0-23-5, Yuvraj 4-0-24-2, Narwal 3-0-21-0.