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India A produced a clinical all-round performance to crush South Africa A by nine wickets in the second unofficial ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Monday. The hosts dominated from the first ball—first dismantling the visitors for a mere 132 and then chasing the target with ease—to seal the three-match series 2-0 with one game to spare.
Nishant Sindhu and Harshit Rana dismantle South Africa A
Opting to bat first, South Africa A never recovered from a fiery start delivered by the Indian bowlers. Pacer Harshit Rana once again showcased his growing reputation, striking early and hard. His opening spell of 3/21 rattled the opposition, removing skipper Marques Ackerman and two more key batters to set the tone for the innings.
From the other end, left-arm spinner Nishant Sindhu produced the spell of the match. Exploiting the helpful Rajkot conditions, he bowled with precision and control to return career-best figures of 4/16 in 7 overs. Sindhu’s relentless accuracy broke the backbone of South Africa A’s middle order, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Prasidh Krishna (2/21) and Tilak Varma (1/12) chipped in with valuable breakthroughs as the visitors were bowled out for a modest 132 in 30.3 overs. Only Rivaldo Moonsamy (33) and Delano Potgieter (23) offered momentary resistance, but it was far from enough.
Ruturaj Gaikwad leads a smooth and composed chase
Chasing a small target, India A wasted no time asserting authority. Abhishek Sharma came out firing, smashing a brisk 32 off 22 deliveries to put immediate pressure on the South African bowlers. His aggressive approach ensured India A were always well ahead of the required run rate.
Vice-captain Ruturaj Gaikwad then took complete control of the chase, displaying the calmness and maturity that has become his trademark. His unbeaten 68 off 83 balls, laced with nine boundaries, was a masterclass in pacing an innings. It also marked his second consecutive half-century of the series.
After Abhishek’s dismissal, Gaikwad found solid support from skipper Tilak, who stayed unbeaten on 29 off 62 deliveries. Together, they stitched a steady partnership that guided India A to a comfortable finish. The hosts crossed the line in 27.5 overs, clinching the win by a commanding nine-wicket margin.
Dominating victory for India A in the 2nd unofficial ODI against South Africa A 🙌
— bet88visa.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
The emphatic victory highlighted India A’s dominance in the series, offering crucial exposure to rising talents ahead of upcoming senior-team commitments. With the series already in the bag, the final match on November 19, 2025, at the same venue in Rajkot, will now be a dead rubber.
