India 'A' register seven-wicket victory over South Africa 'A'

India 'A' salvaged some pride by winning their second and last one-day match against South Africa 'A' by seven wickets at the Benoni cricket ground in Johannesburg on Monday.

After restricting the hosts to 231 for seven in the stipulated 50 overs, the Indians put up a solid batting performance to reach 233 for the loss of just three wickets with as many as 41 balls to spare.

India had lost their first one-day match to South Africa at the Lenasia cricket ground by five wickets last Thursday.

Man-of-the-match Yuvraj Singh (76 not out) and Rohan Gavaskar (44 not out) shared an unbroken match-winning partnership of 123 runs for the fourth wicket, building on the platform laid by the top three batsmen - Abhijit Kale, Parthiv Patel and Mohammed Kaif.

Kale (37) and Patel (32) added 53 runs for the first wicket before Kaif (33) came in to share another half-century stand, 57 runs to be precise, for the second wicket with Kale.

Earlier, the left-arm spin bowling of Murali Kartik (2-18) reduced the hosts to 109 for five before A G Price (67) and Justin Ontong (46) rescued South Africa with a 72-run stand for the sixth wicket.

The duo were going great guns when Kaif broke the partnership with a brilliant pick and throw to dismiss Price.

Brief scores:
South Africa 'A' 231 for seven (A Gong 46; Kartik 2-18) lost to India 'A' 233 for three in 43.1 overs (A Kale 37, P Patel 32, M Kaif 33, R Gavaskar 44 n.o, Y Singh 76 n.o; Ontong 2-50).

Mail Cricket Editor