Nair’s 90 helps India A clinch series-levelling win in South Africa

Potchefstroom, AugUST 22 

Skipper Karun Nair anchored a tricky chase with a polished 90 as India A beat South Africa A by six wickets in the second Test to level the two-match series 1-1. 

Chasing a target of 224, India A took 62.3 overs to cross the line as Nair got rid of his wretched form, hitting 13 boundaries in his 144-ball knock. Opener Ravikumar Samarth (55) hit his second half-century of the match and added crucial 74 runs for the third wicket with Nair. 

The 93-run stand for the fourth wicket between Nair and Ankit Bawne (32) sealed the game for India. When Nair was finally dismissed, India needed just two runs for victory.

It’s the bowlers, however, who deserve more credit for setting up the victory as they dismissed South Africa for just 177 runs in their second innings.  Right-arm pacer Ankit Rajpoot (3/15) and left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem (3/47) were the most successful bowlers for India.

Brief scores: South Africa A: 322 and 177 (S Cook 70; S Nadeem 3/47, A Rajpoot 3/15); India A: 276 and 226/4 (K Nair 90, R Samarth 55). — PTI