India A tour of South Africa 2013: Dominant Indian batsmen seal win

Shikhar Dhawan scored 85 off just 67 balls to help India post 309 in 38 overs

India A defeated South Africa A by 18 runs in a rain-truncated match( 38 overs a side) at Pretoria, South Africa.

Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma started off very well, helping India past 50 runs in just 7.4 overs. They put together 140 runs in 19.5 overs. Shikhar Dhawan was the first one to be dismissed by Justin Ontong, having scored 85 of just 67 balls.

Within a span of five overs, India lost two more wickets. Ontong claimed his second wicket as Rohit was sent back for run-a-ball 65 while Cheteshwar Pujara failed yet again. With the scoreboard reading 168/3 in 24.3 overs, the heroes of the last match Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu joined hands as they went on to score a rapid 89 off just 58 deliveries.

By the time Raina got out for 60 off 34 balls, the damage had been already done. Rayudu, circumspect till Raina’s dismissal, shifted gears as he scored 27 from just 10 balls to add to his 30 of 28 already to inflict more damage before getting out. Dinesh Karthik’s little cameo helped India set a massive target of 309.

Unfazed by the colossal task ahead of them, South African openers Reeza Hendricks and Rilee Rossouw began their innings in a positive manner as they combined to score 78 off 10.2 overs before off spinner Parvez Rasool accounted for both the openers in his second over.

However, SA did not crumble at the sight of the minor setback with Dean Elgar and Vaughn van Jaarsveld combining to score a 100-run partnership. Despite scoring close to seven runs in an over for 30 overs, SA were left needing 117 of 54 deliveries to chase down what looked like an implausible target.

The required run rate forced the batsmen to try and score more boundaries, an attempt they failed in pursuing. Three SA wickets, including the two well-set batsmen, fell in quick successions with Nadeem picking two of them to derail South Africa’s chase. It started raining again with the home team at 258/5 in 34.4 overs, needing 52 of 20 balls, making no more play possible.

Although India were looking favourites, one could not rule out the possibility keeping in mind India’s death bowling abilities. It did not matter as India were declared winners by 18 runs.

Elgar’s 84 off 72 was the top score for the home side.