Gaikwad, Rana star as India A clinch series against South Africa A

India A sealed the three-match unofficial ODI series against South Africa A with a nine-wicket win in Rajkot. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unbeaten 68 and Harshit Rana’s three wickets powered India A to an unassailable 2-0 lead

Rajkot: Ruturaj Gaikwad struck an unbeaten fifty following Harshit Rana’s three-wicket burst as India A crushed South Africa A by nine wickets in the second unofficial ODI here on Sunday.

The victory gave India A an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

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Pacer Rana (3/21) and left-arm spinner Nishant Sindhu (4/16) bowled out the visitors for a paltry 132 in 30.3 overs, before India A chased down the target in 27.5 overs, finishing at 135 for one.

Abhishek Sharma (32 off 22 balls) played a typically aggressive knock and added 53 runs for the opening wicket with Gaikwad (68 not out) in just 8.1 overs. He was dismissed by Lutho Sipamla, caught by Luhan Dre Pretorious.

Gaikwad and skipper Tilak Varma (29 not out) then calmly completed the chase, with Gaikwad sealing the win with a boundary off off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen.

Earlier, South Africa’s batters had little clue against Rana’s pace and Sindhu’s guile as the duo shared seven wickets. Rivaldo Moonsamy (33 off 34 balls) was the top-scorer in an otherwise disappointing innings, with no batter crossing 40.

Brief scores: South Africa A: 132 all out in 30.3 overs (Rivaldo Moonsamy 33, Harshit Rana 3/21, Nishant Sindhu 4/16) India A: 135/1 in 27.5 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 68 not out, Tilak Varma 29 not out, Abhishek Sharma 32) Result: India A won by 9 wickets.