Manish Pandey is in sublime form having scored two half-centuries and one century in ongoing KPL (PTI/File photo)
India A vs South Africa A, Ind A vs SA A 3rd ODI highlights: In a rain-affected contest, Manish Pandey and Shivam Dube helped India A secure a series-winning victory over South Africa A in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. Chasing a stiff target of 208 runs in 30 overs in the third ODI, Dube remained unbeaten on 45 off 28 balls to help the Men In Blue chase the target with 13 balls to spare.
Earlier in the day, skipper Manish Pandey spearheaded the Indian batting and scored 80 off 59 balls to put India in the driver’s seat. India A had already won the previous two matches and now with this win, they are 3-0 up in the 5-match series.
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SIX, FOUR, SIX! Shivam Dube wraps things up in style as India A chase the target with 13 balls to spare. IND A: 208/6 (27.5) | India A won by 4 wickets
Shivam Dube and Axar Patel guide India A home by adding 34 runs for the seventh wicket. Shivam Dube remains unbeaten on 45 off 28 balls, while his partner supports him by sticking at the other end, scoring 7 off 8 balls.
Bjorn Fortuin gets the big fish as Manish Pandey walks back to the pavilion after scoring brilliant 81 off 59 balls. It was a flighted delivery and the Indian skipper went for a big shot. However, the ball fails to cross the long-on boundary as Lutho Sipamla takes a simple catch. IND A: 176/6 (25 overs) | need 32 runs in 30 balls
Manish Pandey is the key man and South Africa would be eager to send the Indian skipper back to the pavilion. He is currently playing on 75 off 55 deliveries, including one four and five sixes. Can the Indian skipper guide the team home? IND A: 158/5 (22.3 overs)
A soft dismissal as George Linde strikes again to keep South Africa in the contest. A short delivery by the tweaker and Nitish Rana tries to loft it over the cover fielder but fails to execute his shot. The ball hits the sticker of the bat and Janneman Malan walks two or three steps back to collect another simple catch. Nitish Rana departs after scoring 13. IND: 133/5 (19.5 overs) | need 75 to win in 61 balls
George Linde provides South Africa with the breakthrough they were looking for as he breaks the 70-run stand between Manish Pandey and Ishan Kishan. It was a flighted delivery and the wicketkeeper-batsman went for a big shot, but unfortunate for him as the ball hits the toe-end of the bat and goes high in the air before it is caught comfortably by Janneman Malan at the deep mid-wicket area. Ishan Kishan departs after scoring 40 off 41 balls. IND: 96/4 (14.4 overs) | need 112 runs in 92 balls
After losing three early wickets, skipper Manish Pandey along with Ishan Kishan tries to bring the Indian chase back on track. The duo have added 59 runs in just 39 deliveries. Pandey is batting on 31 off 23, while his partner is on 39 off 36. IND A: 85/3 (13 overs) | need 123 more to win
Junior Dala with a short delivery and Krunal Pandya hits the ball straight to George Linde at mid-on. The ball was close to his body and the batsman went to his backfoot while trying to pull it towards the mid-wicket area. Doesn't get the timing right as the ball balloons up high in the air, before it is comfortably collected by Linde. Krunal Pandya departs after scoring 13 off 12 balls. IND: 26/3 (6.2 overs) need 182 more to win
Not a great start to chase by the hosts as double strike from Anrich Nortje has left India-A reeling on 9/2 after 2 overs. Rituraj Gaikwad and Ricky Bhui depart as Ishan Kishan and Krunal Pandya take the crease.
Heinrich Klaasen's quick 44 off 21 balls helps South Africa post a challenging 207/8 on the board at the end of 30 overs. India require 208 to win.
Junior Dala plays the ball towards the offside and takes a single. However, his partner Bjorn Fortuin insists for a double here but the Indians are quick to react. Ricky Bhui with a throw straight at Ishan Kishan and he knocks the stumps out as Dala fails to make his ground by quite a long distance. He departs on 1 off 2 balls. SA: 205/8 (29.2 overs)
George Linde fails to connect a full toss delivered by Shradul Thakur and it goes on to hit his pads. A huge appeal by the bowler and the umpire takes his time before raising his finger. George Linde is trapped LBW on 17 off 15 balls. SA: 202/7 (28.5 overs)
A really good inning by Heinrich Klaasen comes to an end as Deepak Chahar picks his second wicket of the match. It was short delivery with some variation in the pace and Klassen hits it straight into the hands of Ruturaj Gaikwad at square leg. Klaasen departs after scoring 44 off 21 balls. SA: 198/6 (28 overs)
Heinrich Klaasen is making the difference here. The wicketkeeper-batsman is currently batting at a strike rate of 175.00 as he has fetched 21 runs in 12 deliveries. With the match being reduced to 30 overs per side, can the 28-year-old help South Africa edge past the 200-run-mark? SA: 170/5 (26 overs)
Trouble for South Africa as Temba Bavuma goes back to the pavilion in the first delivery of the next over. Goes down on his knees and tries to sweep the ball but the extra pace by Krunal Pandya does the trick. Bavuma fails to connect, loses his control and Ishan Kishan delivers with some quick glovework. The South African skipper departs after scoring 27 off 33 balls. SA:135/5 (23.1 overs)
Just when the pair of Temba Bavuma and Khaya Zondo looked to accelerate the South African innings, Yuzvendra Chahal provides the Men in Blue with a crucial breakthrough. A flighted delivery by Chahal and Zondo steps out of the crease and tries to toss the ball over the long-off boundary. The batsman gets the elevation but fails to clear the distance as Shivam Dube grabs a simple catch at the end. Zondo departs after scoring 21 off 23 balls. SA: 134/4 (22.1 overs)
A sweep shot by Temba Bavuma and the batsman tries to steal a quick single. However, Shardul Thakur and Ishan Kishan combine well as Matthew Breetzke falls short of his crease despite putting a diving effort. South Africa lose their third wicket as Breetzke walks back on 36 off 34 balls. SA: 92/3 (15 overs)
It was a short and wide delivery by Krunal Pandya, but Janneman Malan fails to middle the ball as it goes towards Axar Patel at Point. The fielder leans forward and completes a good catch to send the batsman back to the pavilion on 37 off 33 balls. SA: 62/2 (10.5 overs)
After getting off to a solid start, the Indian bowlers have managed to push the visitors on backfoot. After the dismissal of Hendricks, South Africa have just managed to add 11 runs on the board in 21 balls. Janneman Malan is batting on 26 off 24 balls, while his partner Matthew Breetzke is taking his time to settle in. Breetzke is batting on 2 off 10 balls. SA: 39/1 (8 overs)
Ishan Kishan takes a spectacular catch as Reeza Hendricks returns to the pavilion after scoring 9 off 14 balls. A hint of swing by Deepak Chahar and the ball takes a faint edge before the wicketkeeper completes a good diving catch. SA: 28/1 (4.3 overs)
The match has been reduced to 30 overs per side as a result of the late start. Meanwhile, the pair of Janneman Malan and R Hendricks arrive at the middle to start the proceedings of the day. Deepak Chahar will bowl the first over for India.
India A: Ricky Bhui, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, RD Gaikwad, Nitish Rana, DL Chahar, KH Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahkar, Manish Pandey (c), Shradul Thakur, Axar Patel
South Africa A: Lutho Simpala, George Linde, Bjorn Fortuin, Junior Dala, Heinrich Klassen (wk), Matthew Breetzke, Reeza Hendricks, Janneman Malan, Temba Bavum (c), Anrich Nortje, Khayelihle Zondo
South Africa A have won the toss and have elected to bat first.
Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube’s big-hitting prowess was well complemented by senior international Yuzvendra Chahal’s five-wicket haul as India A comfortably beat South Africa A by 69 runs in the series opener. [India A vs South Africa A 1st ODI: Report]
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.
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. [India A vs South Africa A 2nd ODI: Report]
Shubman Gill and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha will share the captaincy duties for India A in the unofficial Test series against South Africa A, beginning September 9. [READ MORE]
Hello and welcome to the LIVE COVERAGE of the third unofficial ODI match between India A vs South Africa A. Having already won the first two ODIs, the Men In Blue would look to wrap the series. South Africa, on the other hand, would aim to bounce back in the contest. As per latest report, the toss has been delayed due to wet outfield. Stay tuned for LIVE UPDATES!