India ‘A’ lost their opening game of the one-day tri-series to South Africa by two wickets in Pretoria. In the low-scoring match, Manish Pandey top-scored for India with 55 runs while the rest of the lineup caved-in to the attack from the hosts. After bowling India out for 152, SA’s middle-order helped chase down the target in 37.4 overs.
Asked to bat, India lost two wickets in the second over with just seven runs on the board. Beauran Hendricks claimed Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer to push India on the back-foot. Manish Pandey then joined Karun Nair in reviving the innings. However, with Dwaine Pretorius accounting for the opener, the partnership ended for 42. Although the No 4 batsman, strove to hold the innings together, India then continued to lose wickets at the other end. Aaron Phangiso claimed four while Pretorius claimed three to wrap up the Indian innings.
Mohammed Siraj then gave India an early breakthrough with the wicket of Henry Davids in the second over. 11 runs later, Shardul Thakur bowled Dane Paterson to leave SA on 16 for two. Although the Indian attack picked wickets at regular intervals, the SA middle-order chipped in to overhaul the target. While Pretorius made 38, Farhaan Beherdein took the team across the line with an unbeaten 37-run knock.
Chahal picked three for 41 while Axar Patel claimed two for 35 in the losing encounter.
