Jalaj Saxena, Shahbaz Nadeem hand India A convincing win
A top-order stutter did not hamper India A's chase of 48, with the home side taking less than ten overs to seal the win
ESPNcricinfo staff
12-Sep-2019
Shahbaz Nadeem bowled with guile and control • Getty Images
India A 303 (Gill 90, Saxena 61*, Ngidi 3-50, Piedt 3-84) and 49 for 3 (Bhui 20*, Ngidi 2-22) beat South Africa A 164 (Jansen 45*, Thakur 3-29, Gowtham 3-64) and 186 (Klaasen 48, Mulder 46, Nadeem 3-21, Saxena 2-22) by seven wickets
India A routed South Africa A by seven wickets in the first unofficial Test in Thiruvananthapuram, chasing down a target of 48 in 9.4 overs after having bowled out the visitors for 186 in the second innings.
Resuming day four on 179 for 9, South Africa A's innings didn't last long as Shardul Thakur bowled Lutho Sipamla in the fourth over of the day. Shahbaz Nadeem was the most successful bowler for India A, picking up 3 for 21, while Jalaj Saxena and Thakur bagged two wickets each.
India A stuttered in their chase, but there were not enough runs for South Africa A's bowlers to make a match out of it. Lungi Ngidi dismissed Shubman Gill and Ankit Bawne cheaply. KS Bharat didn't last long either and was caught off Dane Piedt, leaving India A 37 for 3. Shivam Dube though hit the next two balls for two straight sixes to wrap up the game. Ricky Bhui, who was promoted to open the batting, remained unbeaten on 20.
Saxena, who was a last-minute inclusion in the squad, was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 61 in the first innings and 2 for 22 with the ball.
The second four-day match will begin on September 17 in Mysore.