Thiruvananthapuram: Ishan Kishan blasted a blistering 24-ball 55 as India 'A' beat South Africa 'A' by two wickets in the rain-hit second unofficial ODI to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series here on Saturday.
Chasing 163 to win in a rain-curtailed match, the hosts scampered home with an over to spare, thanks to Kishan's heroics and Krunal Pandya's crucial 15-ball 23. Kishan hit five boundaries and four sixes in his innings, while Pandya's knock comprised a six and a four.
File photo Ishan Kishan (L). Getty Images
Sent into bat, South Africa 'A' posted 162 for 5 in 21 overs with George Linde top-scoring with a power-packed 52 not out which was studded with one four and five sixes. Kishan, who plays for Jharkhand in domestic cricket, walked in with India 'A' in a spot of bother at 57 for 3.
He went on the attack from the word go and scored a magnificent six early on. He hammered the spinners nonchalantly and when the pacy Junior Dala bowled short, he swivelled around and smacked him for a big six.
His stunning assault made his team's task of chasing down what appeared to be a stiff target easy. Earlier, Anmolpreet Singh (30, 19 balls, 2X4, 2X6) set the tone for the chase along with Shubman Gill (21) after the quick dismissal of opener Ruturaj Gaikwad (1).
However, India A were reduced to 57 for three in the ninth over. After Kishan's fall, the hosts lost three wickets in the space of eight balls before Pandya ensured the win. There was some confusion when Axar Patel, the hero of the first match, was declared caught behind with the umpire later reversing the decision and calling him back.
Patel, however, fell soon after, going for a big hit off Junior Dala, caught by Janneman Malan on the boundary for 10. Earlier, Linde's pyrotechnics had helped South Africa 'A' reach 162 for 5 in 20 overs after India A sent both the openers back by the end of the fourth over.
Linde reached his half-century in 24 balls to power the visiting team's late surge. Skipper Temba Bavuma (40, 33 balls, 6 fours) and Heinrich Klaasen (31, 27 balls, 3 sixes) also provided the impetus to the SA 'A innings.
Bavuma, a regular in the Proteas Test squad, showed his class with some superb shots while Klaasen hammered the big hits before being done in by a yorker from Deepak Chahar. In the end, Linde's fireworks enabled SA 'A' go past the 150-mark.
Brief scores: South Africa 'A': 162 for 5 in 21 overs (George Linde 52 not out, Temba Bavuma 40, Heinrich Klaasen 31, Axar Patel 1/19) lost to India 'A': 163 for 8 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 55, Anmolpreet Singh 30, Krunal Pandya 23 not out, Junior Dala 2/25).
MoM: Ishan Kishan.
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