Rishabh Pant marked his much-anticipated red-ball comeback with a glowing 90 that carried India A to a hard-fought three-wicket win over South Africa A within the opening four-day match on Sunday. The India captain’s knock, laced with authority and aggression, set the tone for a spirited chase because the hosts overhauled a goal of 275 to take a 1-0 lead within the two-match sequence.
Resuming the ultimate morning at a precarious 119 for 4, India A nonetheless wanted 166 runs to win. Pant (90 off 113 balls, 11 fours, 4 sixes) and Ayush Badoni (34 off 47) counterattacked with intent, stitching a brisk 63-run stand that swung momentum India’s approach. Pant started the day in usually flamboyant vogue, taking 14 runs off Okuhle Cele’s opening over — together with a one-handed six and a pair of deft late cuts.
Because the pair stored the scoreboard ticking at six runs an over, South Africa A had been compelled to desert their fuller lengths and resort to short-pitched bowling. The change in tactic finally labored, as Pant, hurried by a pointy bouncer from Tiaan van Vuuren, miscued a pull to Lesego Senokwane at slip after earlier being dropped on 80. Nonetheless, the wicketkeeper-batter’s effort, coupled along with his 139 overs behind the stumps earlier within the match, will little doubt please selectors forward of India’s upcoming Take a look at sequence in opposition to South Africa later this month.
Badoni fell quickly after, top-edging a bouncer to high-quality leg, whereas Tanush Kotian (23 off 30) perished earlier than lunch making an attempt a pull shot. India A added 101 runs within the first session however slipped to 216 for seven, nonetheless 59 runs adrift of victory.
The script then turned to the decrease order. Manav Suthar (20 not out) and Anshul Kamboj (37 not out) dug in with a mixture of braveness and counterpunch. Kamboj, struck on the helmet by van Vuuren, responded defiantly with a six and a 4 off the very subsequent deliveries. Later, Suthar too was struck on the shoulder however held agency, displaying admirable resolve.
Their unbeaten 60-run partnership took India A house in nervy vogue, with Suthar sealing victory by lofting Prenelan Subrayen over mid-wicket for a boundary. The win not solely underlined India A’s preventing depth but in addition reaffirmed Pant’s readiness for red-ball cricket after his lengthy harm layoff.
The second four-day match might be performed on the BCCI Heart of Excellence grounds from Thursday, with India A eyeing a sequence sweep.
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