South Africa opener Quinton de Kock's 113 off 86 balls in vain
India 'A' meet unbeaten Australia 'A' in Friday's tri-series final
Mayank Agarwal and Manish Pandey smashed centuries to power India ‘A’ to a 34-run victory over South Africa A and qualify for the tri-series final, at the M A Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai, on Thursday.
Agarwal (176 runs off 133 balls) and Pandey (108 not out off 85) shared a 203-run stand for the second wicket to set up a mammoth 371 for three in the crucial clash.
South Africa ‘A’, who had the improbable task of overcoming the massive total in 175 balls to make it to the final, fought through opener Quinton de Kock (113 off 86), Reeza Hendricks (76 off 109) and Khaya Zondo (86 off 60) but ended up with just 337 for six in 50 overs.
India will meet the undefeated Australia ‘A’ in Friday's final.
The visitors' move to field first backfired, as India ‘A’ openers Agarwal and captain Unmukt Chand (64 off 77) shared a century stand to set up the huge total.
It turned out to be a run riot after Chand departed with India on 106 for one in the 22nd over.
Both Agarwal and Pandey, who represent Karnataka in the domestic circuit, toyed with the opposition bowling to complete their 203-run partnership in 24 overs.
Agarwal hammered 20 boundaries and five sixes in his blazing innings, reaching his second straight hundred against South Africa A in the process.
The 24-year-old had scored 130 in his team's successful chase earlier in the tournament.
Pandey, his state-mate, was in top form too, hitting eight fours and two maximums in a sublime knock.
The stylish batsman stayed till the end as India put up a formidable total.
It was a second successive fifty-plus innings from Pandey and third in a row for Agarwal.
The spirited South Africans surely made a match out of it even though they were never in the hunt for a miracle chase in 175 balls.
De Kock, one of the 10 players to have been hospitalized due to food poisoning earlier in the competition, gave South Africa a glimmer of hope with his entertaining hundred that comprised 10 fours and six sixes.
The writing was on the wall for South Africa ‘A’ but Hendricks later kept them in the game, even though reaching the final was already out of reach.
He started the innings slowly before cutting loose and giving the opposition a scare.
Hendricks formed a handy pairing with Zondo but his departure meant it was all but over for the touring team.
