India A sealed the series with a 4 wicket win in a rain-curtailed 3rd unofficial One day international played at Greenfield Stadium, Thirvunthrpuram on Monday.
South Africa A captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bat first. The match was reduced to 30 overs aside. Janneman Malan and Reeza Hendricks got to a flying start adding 28 runs for the opening wicket. Deepak Chahar got the wicket of Hendricks with a brilliant diving catch from Ishan Kishan. At the end of 6 overs, South Africa A were 29 for 1 at the end of 6 overs.
Janneman Malan played with positive intent along with Breetzke. Both South Africa A batsmen took on India A bowlers. Krunal Pandya dismissed Malan for 37. Malan and Breetzke added 34 runs for the 2nd wicket.
Breetzke showed his potentials with the bat taking on the India A spinners. It was a brilliant piece of fielding by Shardul Thakur to run out Breetzke for 36. Temba Bavuma and Khaya Zondo steadied the South Africa A innings adding 42 runs for the 4th wicket. India A picked the wickets Zondo and Bavuma to put the visitors under pressure. Heinrich Klassen and Linde added 63 runs for the 6th wicket. In the last 2 overs, India A picked wickets and restricted the run flow. South Africa posted 207 for 8.
Chasing the target of 208 runs to win, it was not a perfect start for India A as they lost 2 wickets of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ricky Bhui in the same over. Krunal Pandya and Ishan Kishan steadied the innings with good stroke play. At the end of 1st power-play overs, India A were 24 for 2.
Soon after the power play overs, Junior Dala dismissed Krunal Pandya to reduce India A at 26 for 3. Ishan Kishan and captain Manish Pandey steadied the innings with aggressive stroke play from both batsmen. As things were looking good for India A, Linde struck to dismiss the dangerous Kishan for 40. Kishan and Manish Pandey added 70 runs for the 4th wicket.
Manish Pandey continued his aggressive approach while Nitish Rana gave India A captain the strike. Linde got the breakthrough again dismissing Rana for 13. Shivam Dube came to the crease and played with positive intent. India A captain Pandey reached his fifty off 36 balls. Pandey and Dube put the pressure on South Africa A bowlers with big strokes. To hit a big stroke, Pandey was dismissed for a brilliant 81.
With 16 runs required off 16 balls, Shivam Dube 2 sixes and 1 four to give India A 4 wicket win to seal the series. Dube remained not out on 45. India A won the match by 4 wickets with 13 balls to spare.
India A 208 for 6 in 27.5 overs ( Manish Pandey 81, Shivam Dube 45*, Nortje 2/41, Linde 2/41) beat South Africa A 207 for 8 in 30 overs ( Heinrich Klassen 44, Janemann Malan 37, Krunal Pandya 2/23, Deepak Chahar 2/42) by 4 wickets.
The 4th ODI match will be played on 4th September at the same ground.
