India-A vs South Africa-A ODI – Nishant and Ruturaj shine as India-A seals series

India-A clinched an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match one-day series against South Africa-A, producing an all-round performance to win by nine wickets with plenty to spare at the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Sunday.

Ruturaj Gaikwad made an unbeaten 68 (32b, 9×4) and stitched an 82-run stand with captain Tilak Varma (29 n.o.) as the hosts crossed the finish line in 27.5 overs after Nishant Sindhu (four for 16) and Harshit Rana (three for 21) set it up for India-A.

Ruturaj sealed the chase with a boundary through the covers, delighting a nearly 18,000-strong crowd.

The chase began with authority. Abhishek Sharma lofted two boundaries over point in the opening over, and Ruturaj joined in with successive fours off Lutho Sipamla.

In the eighth over, Sipamla removed Abhishek for a brisk 32 off 22, but Ruturaj responded with another pair of boundaries, ensuring no shift in momentum.

Tilak settled in calmly, driving leg-spinner Nqaba Peter straight down the ground for his first four, and with the target modest, the Ruturaj-Tilak partnership guided India-A home without fuss. The visitor attempted to tighten the screws with close-in fielders, but the duo’s measured approach ensured a straightforward finish.

Earlier, South Africa-A, opting to bat first, made a bright start as Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Rivaldo Moonsamy struck a boundary in each of the first six overs.

At 39 for no loss, the visitor appeared well placed, but Harshit Rana’s introduction sparked a collapse. The pacer used slower balls and bouncers effectively, dismissing Pretorius with a mistimed pull. Despite Moonsamy’s brief counterattack, Nishant Sindhu removed him for 33 to open the floodgates.

Harshit then struck twice, removing captain Marques Ackerman and Jordan Hermann, while Sindhu and Prasidh Krishna cleaned up the lower order. South Africa-A crashed from 59 for one to 132 all out, a total never enough to challenge India-A.

The scores: South Africa-A 132 in 30.3 overs (Nishant Sindhu 4/16, Harshit Rana 3/21) lost to India-A 135/1 in 27.5 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 68 n.o.); Toss: South Africa-A; PoM: Nishant.