IND A vs SA A | Jalaj Saxena stars with bat and ball as India 'A' take 1-0 lead

09/12/2019

All-rounder Jalaj Saxena, with the help of Shahbaz Nadeem, strangled South Africa 'A' as hosts India 'A' thrashed the visitors by seven wickets. After scoring an unbeaten 61 in the first innings, Saxena claimed two wickets in the second to help set up an easy chase for India 'A' on Day 4.

Brief scores: India 'A' 303 all-out (Gill 90, Ngidi 3/50) and 49-3 (Bhui 20*, Ngidi 2/22) beat South Africa 'A' 164 all-out (Jansen 45, Thakur 3/29) and 186 all-out (Klaasen 48, Nadeem 3/21) by 7 wickets

After comprehensively beating South Africa 'A' 4-1 in the unofficial ODIs, India 'A' started off the four-day matches on a perfect note as they thrashed the visitors by seven wickets to go 1-0 up in the series. Winning the toss and opting to bowl first, the Indians restricted South Africa to just 164 on Day 1 before taking a 139-run lead in the first innings, thanks to Shubman Gill's 90 and Jalaj Saxena's unbeaten 61.

Then, on a rain-marred Day 3, Zubayr Hamza (44), Heinrich Klaasen (48), and Wiaan Mulder (46) showed some resistance for the Proteas, but they were undone by the brilliance of Shahbaz Nadeem (3/21) and Saxena (2/22), who spun a web around the visitors.

South Africa 'A' were eventually bowled out for 186 in the second innings, meaning India had a modest total of 47 to chase down on Day 4. Despite losing three early wickets, the hosts made quick work of the chase, finishing it off in just 9.4 overs. The highlight of the innings was the cameo from Shivam Dube, who hit two sixes in two balls he faced to seal the victory for the Shubman Gill-led side.

The second unofficial Test and the last match of the tour will be played at the Srikantadatta Narasimha Raja Wadiyar Ground, Mysore on September 17.