Ashok Menaria produced an all-round show as India ‘A’ scored a convincing six-wicket victory over New Zealand ‘A’ in the second one-dayer between the countries to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.
The Rajasthan all-rounder weaved his magic at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy stadium, finishing with figures of 10-0-38-5 overs before smashing an unbeaten 37, as the Indians dismissed New Zealand ‘A’ for 216 in 47.2 overs, after skipper Unmukt Chand won the toss and elected to field.
Dhawal Kulkarni scalped two wickets, while Basant Mohanty and Sandeep Sharma got one each.
In reply, the hosts, riding on individual fifties from Chand (59) and
Mandeep (59) and their 89-run third-wicket partnership off 103 balls, overhauled the target with 11.1 overs to spare.
After their departure, Kedar Jadhav (30) and Maneria (37) were involved in an unbeaten 53-run stand off 45 balls.
Earlier, Carl Cachopa top-scored for New Zealand with a 103-ball 80, which was studded with nine boundaries.
However, the 27-year-old South Africa-born cricketer did not get much support from the other end as the Kiwis always found the going tough against an inspired Indian bowling attack.
Chasing 217 to win, opener Robin Uthappa could not make use of a life he got early in his innings and was dismissed by Mark Gillespie in the fifth over.
Looking to play an uppish shot, Uthappa was caught by Daryl Mitchell. The Karnataka batsman struck one four and a six in his 19-ball innings.
One-down Aditya Tare (7) also did not stay long; he was back in the hut in the ninth over after being caught by Luke Ronchi behind the stumps off a bouncer from Gillespie.
However, skipper Chand did not allow the fall of wickets to affect his game and dealt in boundaries to reach his half-century in the 21st over with a single off Anton Devcich.
Chand and new-man Mandeep then mixed caution with aggression to take India across the hundred-run mark by the end of 20 overs.
Chand was dismissed in the 26th over by Adam Milne. He paid the price for playing away from the body to a delivery that nipped back a bit. The inside edge disturbed his stumps.
His 71-ball knock was laced with seven boundaries and two sixes.
Mandeep and Kedar Jadhav then added 31 runs to take India across the 150-mark, before the former was soon dismissed by Matt Henry in the 32nd over as the hosts were reduced to 164 for four.
New batsman Maneria then plundered seven boundaries to take India home in no time.
Earlier, Menaria picked the wickets of Colin Munro (4), Mitchell (10), Cachopa (80), Andrew Ellis (34) and Scott Kuggeleijn (3) to emerge the wrecker-in-chief.
However, it was pacer Kulkarni who provided early breakthroughs by dismissing openers Anton Devcich (1) and Ronchi (34).
Brief scores:
New Zealand 'A': 216 in 47.2 overs (Carl Cachopa 80; Ashok Menaria 5-38).
India 'A': 217 for four in 38.5 overs (Unmukt Chand 59, Mandeep Singh 59; Mark Gillespie 2-62).
Image: Ashok Menaria (centre) celebrates with team mates after picking up a wicket.
Photograph: Andhra Cricket Association
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