Prithvi Shaw continued his great form as his quickfire knock enabled India A to beat New Zealand A in Lincoln. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
New Delhi:
Prithvi Shaw's blazing 48, aided by quick knocks from Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav as well as solid bowling performances from Mohammed Siraj and Khaleel Ahmed helped India A trounce New Zealand A in the second one-dayer at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln on Wednesday. In a curious match which involved no fifties, Shaw and the Indian batting order's superb batting helped India A chase down the target of 230 to win by five wickets but with over 20 overs to spare. Having won the first two games against New Zealand XI, India A continued their great run on the tour after they chose to bowl in Lincoln.
George Worker and Rachin Ravindra gave New Zealand A a great start as they went at six runs per over. Ravindra smashed a four and a six off Khaleel and followed it up with two fours off Siraj. However, it was Siraj who provided the breakthrough as Worker was dismissed for 14. Ravindra looked good for his fifty but on 49, he was dismissed by Vijay Shankar. Glenn Phillips and Tom Bruce strung a solid partnership and struck some boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking. Phillips was run-out for 24 but Bruce found an able ally in Tom Blundell and the duo tried to keep New Zealand on track for a big score.
Axar Patel once again provided the breakthrough for India A as he dismissed Blundell for 16. Bruce neared his fifty with two fours off Krunal Pandya but Axar got the big wicket of James Neesham for 1. New Zealand A's hopes of setting a big score received a big blow when Khaleel sent back Bruce for 47 but Todd Astle showed his aggressive intent with two fours off Khaleel. Cole McConchie and Kyle Jamieson helped New Zealand A go past 200. McConchie lofted Krunal for a big six while in the 46th over bowled by Rahul Chahar, McConchie hit two fours while Jamieson hit a four as 14 runs came off the over. Khaleel struck again by getting rid of Jamieson for 19 but Siraj wrapped up the innings with two wickets in the 49th over as New Zealand A were bowled out for 230.
Mohammed Siraj took three wickets and was well-supported by Khaleel Ahmed. (Image credit: Getty Images)
In response, New Zealand A, especially Jamieson gave away too many free runs and Prithvi Shaw was in his elements, hammering a six and a four off the bowler. Shaw hammered left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel for two sixes and a four as he neared a fifty. On 48, Shaw was caught by Jamieson off Neesham but India A had gotten a solid platform. Neesham struck again as Mayank Agarwal was caught for 29 but Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson kept India A on the right track.
Gill hit two fours off Jamieson while Samson targeted the same bowler with two fours and a six in the 17th over. Shubman fell to the legspin of Todd Astle but Samson continued his aggression by hitting Ajaz Patel for another six but he departed the next ball. The assault did not stop there as Suryakumar Yadav got going with two fours off Astle.
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A six and a four off the same bowler, as well as two fours off Ravindra put Suryakumar on track for his fifty but he was stumped in attempting one shot too many. Krunal Pandya and Shankar ensured there were no further problems and Krunal sealed the deal with two fours off Neesham as India A coasted away to a win. The second match will take place on January 24th at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
