Gaikwad's Masterclass Seals Victory for India A
In a display of sheer batting excellence, Ruturaj Gaikwad's composed century steered India A to a thrilling four-wicket victory over South Africa A in the first unofficial ODI on Thursday. The match, held at Rajkot, witnessed the hosts successfully chase down a challenging target of 286 with just three balls to spare, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
South Africa A's Remarkable Recovery
Earlier in the day, South Africa A staged an impressive comeback after suffering a dramatic top-order collapse. The visitors found themselves in deep trouble at 53 for five by the 12th over, thanks to early breakthroughs by Indian bowlers. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh struck twice early, dismissing openers Rubin Hermann and Rivaldo Moonsamy, while Prasidh Krishna added to the pressure by removing captain Marques Ackerman.
However, the lower order had different plans. Dian Forrester (77), Delano Potgieter (90), and Bjorn Fortuin (59) combined to form the backbone of South Africa A's remarkable recovery. Their crucial partnerships lifted the team from a precarious position to a competitive total of 285 for nine in their 50 overs.
India A's Controlled Chase
In response, India A began their innings with positive intent. The opening partnership between Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma yielded 64 runs, with Sharma contributing a quickfire 31 off just 25 balls to provide early momentum. Despite the dismissals of Riyan Parag (8) and skipper Tilak Varma (39) causing temporary setbacks, Gaikwad remained the anchor of the innings.
The Maharashtra batsman, who has been out of India's senior ODI and T20 sides, marked his return to form with a fluent 117 off 129 balls. His knock included several well-timed boundaries that kept the chase steady even as wickets fell at regular intervals. Gaikwad's century proved particularly significant given his recent absence from the national team.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who joined the squad after being released from the India Test team, made an important contribution of 37 off 26 balls. His counter-attacking approach eased the pressure on Gaikwad at a crucial juncture. Towards the end, despite losing Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan in quick succession, Nishant Sindhu (29 not out off 26) ensured a smooth finish to the chase.
The victory was sealed in 49.3 overs, with India A maintaining control throughout the chase despite occasional hiccups. The team's composed approach under pressure demonstrated their growing confidence and ability to handle challenging situations.
The two teams will meet again for the second unofficial ODI in Rajkot on Saturday, with India A looking to extend their series lead while South Africa A will be eager to bounce back.
