Ruturaj, Gill help India A beat WI by 8 wkts, take series

Antigua, July 22

Led by opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, India A’s top-order fired in unison to steer the team to a convincing eight-wicket win in the fifth and final unofficial One-dayer against the West Indies A, completing a 4-1 series triumph.

Rahul Chahar (2/53),  cousin Deepak Chahar (2/39) and Navdeep Saini (2/31) — all of whom made the cut for India’s limited-overs squad on Sunday —picked up two wickets each to help India A dismiss West Indies A for 236 in 47.4 overs. Gaikwad (99) then led the chase but missed out on a well-deserved century. 

His fellow opener Shubman Gill (69) and Shreyas Iyer (61) also blasted half-centuries as India A overhauled the target in 33 overs at Coolidge Cricket Ground. Gill hit eight fours and three sixes in his 40-ball 69 to share an opening stand of 110 with Gaikwad. He was dismissed by the off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall in the 12th over. Gaikwad then took India A to the brink of victory before being removed by Keemo Paul with the visitors needing just 15. His 89-ball innings was laced with 11 fours and three sixes. 

Iyer, who added 112 runs for the second wicket with Gaikwad, remained unbeaten with 61 off 64 balls. He had three hits to the fence and cleared the ropes twice. 

Earlier, West Indies A made a good start with opener Sunil Ambris cracking a 52-ball 61 studded with seven boundaries and two sixes to give the team early momentum. 

Brief Scores: India A: 237/2 (Gaikwad 99, Gill 69, Iyer 61*; Keemo Paul 1/37); West Indies A: 236 (Rutherford 65, Ambris 61; Navdeep Saini 2/31, Deepak Chahar 2/39, Rahul Chahar 2/53). — PTI 

Want to be consistent like Virat in WI: Krunal 

New Delhi: Consistency is the best way to impress a skipper and all-rounder Krunal Pandya wants to put his best foot forward in front of Virat Kohli during the upcoming T20I series against West Indies starting August 3 in Florida. The elder of the two ‘Pandya brothers’, Krunal has been selected in India’s 15-member squad led by Kohli for the three T20Is against the West Indies. And the spin-bowling all-rounder said he now wants to pick on his skipper’s brain on how to achieve consistency which will give his limited-overs career much-needed fillip. “I am looking forward to the West Indies tour because there is a lot of cricket in future. I want to perform consistently in both batting and bowling,” Krunal said. “I want to learn from Virat (Kohli) how to develop that hunger and be a consistent performer.” Krunal, who is already in the West Indies with the India A side, said such tours help a cricketer in gaining experience. — PTI