Manoj Tiwary, Manish Pandey Script 70-run Win for India A

Manoj Tiwary and Manish Pandey missed out on three-figure marks but their contrasting innings were enough to guide India A to a comprehensive 70-run win over South Africa A in the second match of the quadrangular series here on Tuesday.

Tiwary blazed his way to a 73-ball 93 while Pandey scored 91 off 108 balls as India A piled up a commendable 326 for seven in 50 overs. In reply, medium fast bowler Dhawal Kulkarni ran through the middle-order claiming five for 54 as South Africa A were all out for 256 in 47.1 overs.

Tiwary and Pandey added 124 runs for the third wicket to lay the foundation for a big score. The Bengal batsman faced 73 balls hitting nine fours and a six while Pandey dropped anchor during his 108 ball innings that had seven fours and a six. It was left to Ambati Rayudu (32 off 20) and Sanju Samson (24 off 13 balls) to take the score past 325 run mark.

Earlier, opting to bat, skipper Robin Uthappa (2) departed early as he offered a catch to Vaughn van Jaarsveld off the bowling of right-arm seamer Kagiso Rabada. Former India Under-19 captain Unmukt Chand (47) then joined forces with Pandey but the duo failed to score at a quick clip during their 84-run second wicket partnership. Chand hit three fours and two sixes in his 62-ball innings.

Chand perished playing rank bad shot as he was caught by Rilee Russouw in the deep giving off-break bowler Simon Harmer his only wicket. While South Africa scored 54 runs for the opening stand, the South Africans were never in the match as they lost wickets at regular intervals.

Kulkarni bowled to a good channel as he got movement off the pitch. Offspinner Parvez Rasool (2/48) was instrumental in providing the initial breakthrough. Reeza Hendricks (52) was the top scorer for the South Africans.

Brief Scores: India A 326/7 (Manoj Tiwary 93, Manish Pandey 91; Marchant de Lange 5/64) beat South Africa A 256 in 47.1 overs (Reeza Hendricks 52; Dhawal Kulkarni 5/54) by 70 runs