Ruturaj Gaikwad Century Powers India A to 4-Wicket Win in 1st Unofficial ODI
Ruturaj Gaikwad Century Powers India A to a decisive four-wicket victory over South Africa A in the 1st Unofficial ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. The opener played a magnificent, anchoring innings, scoring 117 off 129 balls, studded with 12 fours, to successfully guide the hosts past a challenging 286-run target with just three balls to spare. This win gives the Tilak Varma-led India A side a crucial 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The match was a thrilling contest defined by remarkable fightbacks from both teams after facing top-order collapses. While India A’s chase was orchestrated by the brilliance of Ruturaj Gaikwad, South Africa A’s competitive total was built on the backbone of three crucial half-centuries, turning a disastrous start into a formidable score.
South Africa A’s Middle-Order Fightback
After winning the toss, the South Africa A side elected to bat first but were immediately rattled by India’s pace attack. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh (2/59) struck early, and with support from Prasidh Krishna and Nishant Sindhu, the visitors found themselves reeling at a perilous 53 for 5 by the 12th over. Captain Marques Ackerman and the top order succumbed quickly, suggesting a low total was imminent.
However, the middle-order staged a spectacular recovery. Delano Potgieter (90 off 105) and Dian Forrester (77 off 83) put on a brilliant 113-run stand for the sixth wicket, stabilizing the innings and shifting the momentum. Following Forrester’s dismissal, Potgieter found another able partner in Bjorn Fortuin (59 off 56), with the duo adding 87 more runs. Their combined effort ensured South Africa A posted a highly competitive total of 285 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs, turning the game into a high-stakes chase.
Gaikwad Anchors The 286-Run Chase
In response, India A’s chase of 286 runs started positively, with Gaikwad and opening partner Abhishek Sharma (31 off 25) forging a quick 64-run stand. However, the loss of Abhishek, followed by Riyan Parag, meant Gaikwad had to shift focus from aggression to consolidation. The vice-captain formed a vital 89-run partnership with skipper Tilak Varma (39 off 58), methodically keeping the required run rate in check and neutralizing the spin threat posed by Bjorn Fortuin (2/50).
Despite losing Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan in quick succession towards the climax, the steady presence of Gaikwad at the crease had already done the heavy lifting. The late impetus was provided by the all-round efforts of Nitish Kumar Reddy (37 off 26), who was released from the senior Test squad to play this series, and Nishant Sindhu (29* off 26). This powerful finish, capped by a boundary from Harshit Rana (who also took 2 wickets with the ball), sealed the 4-Wicket Win for the hosts in the final over.
Top Performers and Series Lead
The 1st Unofficial ODI Highlights showcase key performances from players aiming for a spot in the senior national side. For South Africa A, the partnership heroics of Potgieter, Forrester, and Fortuin were commendable. For India A, while Ruturaj Gaikwad’s ton was the match-winner, the early breakthroughs by Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana were crucial in limiting the final total. India A now hold a 1-0 lead, with the second match scheduled to be played at the same venue, the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, on Saturday.
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