Bengaluru
India A survived a late scare to clinch a thrilling three-wicket victory over South Africa A in the opening four-day match at the BCCI Centre of Excellence on Sunday, thanks to Rishabh Pant’s fluent 90 and a nerveless finish from the lower order.
Chasing 275, India A appeared in command at one stage before collapsing to 215/7 as Pant, Tanush Kotian (23), and Ayush Badoni (23) fell to South Africa A’s relentless short-ball attack. Just when the visitors sensed an upset, Manav Suthar (20 n.o.) and Anshul Kamboj (37 n.o.) steadied nerves with an unbroken 58-run partnership for the eighth wicket, steering the hosts home shortly after lunch.
Pant’s counterattack had set the tone earlier in the morning. Resuming at 119/4, the wicketkeeper-batter launched into pacer Okuhle Cele with audacious strokes, including a trademark one-handed six, as India A raced ahead. His aggressive approach, however, proved his undoing when he top-edged Tiaan van Vuuren in the slips after a brisk 90 off 113 balls.
Badoni and Kotian’s dismissals off hook shots exposed India A’s recurring short-ball woes, but Suthar and Kamboj showed maturity beyond their experience, mixing caution with aggression to deny the South Africans any further breakthroughs.
Tiaan van Vuuren was South Africa A’s standout bowler, claiming 3/56, while Tshepo Moreki bagged two wickets.
India A finished on 277/7 to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The second game begins on November 6 at the same venue.
Result: India A beat South Africa A by 3 wickets.
Player of the Match: Tanush Kotian.
