RSA A v IND A, Final, Review: Shreyas Iyer special guides India A to tri-series win

After a series of keenly contested games, the action boiled down to the finals of the tri-series between the A sides of three competent nations. India A locked horns with hosts South Africa A for the ultimate glory. The third participating team in the series, Afghanistan A, would surely take a lot of positives from the tour. But the moment was all set for the other men in blue to take the limelight.

Riding on a special ton from middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer, India A romped home to a thumping 7 wicket win over South Africa A in the finals. They chased down the total of 267 with ease. For the Proteas, it was veteran campaigner Farhaan Behardien, who scored an unbeaten ton to see the hosts post a decent total.

Earlier in the game, it was India A skipper Manish Pandey who won the toss and opted to bowl first. They had a few tough selection call to make as Mandeep Singh and Krunal Pandya had to sit out in the game. On the other hand, the hosts opted to rest JJ Smuts and Beuran Hendricks. In walked the South African openers, Henry Davids and Reeza Hendricks. Indian new ball bowlers – Shardul Thakur and Siddarth Kaul – were too hot to handle for the Proteas top order.

Kaul dismissed Hendricks on 5 in the 6th over. In his very next over, he dismissed Henry Davids as well on 20 (27). Shardul joined the party soon to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen for a single digit score to have the hosts reeling in 32/3. Khaya Zondo and Farhaan Behardien were then left with the task of rebuilding the Proteas innings. Both batsmen showed patience to nurdle around for a while before playing their shots.

They marshaled along to put on 80 runs for the fourth wicket before Axar Patel dismissed skipper Zondo for 39 (61). Willen Mulder followed him soon after being run out for 1. The innings headed towards a crash with the scorecard reading 115/5 in 28 overs. Dwaine Pretorius then joined Behardein at the crease. He provided the ideal support that Behardien needed and also gave the much needed impetus to the innings.

Pretorius and Behardien rebuild the innings

Both batsmen notched up their individual fifties en route their 101 run stand. Pretorius hit 58 off 61 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes during his stay at the crease that was cut short by Thakur in the 46th over. In the end, Behardien completed his ton to remain unbeaten on 101 off 114 deliveries with 4 fours and 3 sixes. His efforts saw South Africa A post 267/7 in their stipulated 50 overs.

And the run chase

India A did not have a very prolific start to their innings in the run chase. Junior Dala accounted for the dismissals of both openers – Sanju Samson (12) and Karun Nair (4). After the early double strike, the hosts failed to have a major say in the run chase. Shreyas Iyer and Vijay Shankar showed an excellent display of batting to take the game away from the hosts.

Not only did they rotate the strike well, but also they managed to unsettle the rhythm of the opposition bowlers. India A were put in firm command of the finals with the two batsmen adding 141 runs off 171 balls. Both batsmen reached their individual fifties. South Africa A finally got the breakthrough in the 35th over with Pretorius dismissing Shankar on 72 that came off 86 deliveries with 9 fours.

In walked captain Manish Pandey to join Iyer at the crease. As Pandey settled in at the crease, Iyer stepped on the accelerator and soon notched up a well compiled ton. The game headed only one from there on. India A went on to chase the total in 46.5 overs with Iyer and Pandey seeing them through. Iyer remained unbeaten on 140 off just 131 balls with 11 fours and 4 sixes. Pandey compiled an unbeaten 32 off 38 balls.

Brief Scores:

South Africa A 267/7 in 50 overs (Behardien 101*, Pretorius 58, Shardul 3/52, Kaul 2/55)

India A 270/3 in 46.5 overs (Iyer 140*, Shankar 72, Dala 2/49, Pretorius 1/51)