India A fall one short, still in final

Mackay (Australia), August 30 

Captain Manish Pandey’s valiant century went in vain as India A lost to Australia A by one run in a high-scoring thriller in the Quadrangular Cricket series here today.

However, the defeat did not damage India’s prospects in the tournament as the Rahul Dravid-coached side had already qualified for the final. The win ensured that Australia A also qualified for the title clash, edging out South Africa A. Australia A finished on top of the points table while India A were second after the round-robin encounters.

Put in to bat, Australia A made a commanding 322/6, riding on centuries from Kurtis Patterson (115) and Nic Maddinson (118). Varun Aaron was the most expensive Indian bowler, hammered for 65 runs in seven overs.

In reply, India A finished at 321/8 in 50 overs despite Pandey’s 91-ball 110 and an attractive 74-ball 87 from Sanju Samson. India A required nine runs off the final over and they got six of them off the first four balls. 

With only three runs required off the final two balls, Samson holed out to Marcus Stoinis off Kane Richardson, his former Rajasthan Royals colleague.

Jayant Yadav was on strike with three runs needed off the final delivery. Richardson bowled to a perfect plan and Yadav could manage only one run. Shardul Thakur was run out trying to go for a second run which would have tied the match.

Earlier, a 157-run stand for the fifth wicket between Pandey and Samson raised visions of another India A win. Pandey was very fluent, as he has been for the better part of the tournament, hitting his second century. His innings had 10 fours and three sixes — two off leg-spinner Cameron Boyce and one off pacer Richardson.

It was the skipper’s dismissal in the 47th over that turned the match as pacer Daniel Worral got him caught-behind. 

The momentum of the innings was lost at that stage as Samson, who also hit six boundaries and two sixes, couldn’t take the team past the finishing line.

Brief scores: Australia A: 322/6 in 50 overs (Kurtis Patterson 115, Nic Maddinson 118; Shardul Thakur 2/50, Varun Aaron 1/65); India A: 321/8 in 50 overs (Manish Pandey 110, Sanju Samson 87, Mandeep Singh 56). — PTI