Published: Sep 02, 2019, 03:45 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 02, 2019, 04:18 PM (IST)
Handy contributions from Heinrich Klaasen (44), Janneman Malan (37) and Matthew Breetzke (36) helped South Africa A to 207/8 in a rain-affected third unofficial ODI against India A at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.
Fighting to keep the series alive, South Africa A skipper Temba Bavuma opted to bat first in another rain-affected contest, reduced to 30 overs-per-side. Malan led a decent start as they scored 28/0 in 4.2 overs before Deepak Chahar removed Reeza Hendricks (9) giving his team an early breakthrough.
Malan and Breetzke then steered the innings forward adding 34 runs for the second wicket. They kept on stitching decent partnerships but the spinners kept them in check. They managed to offset the pressure created by the spinners by scoring boundaries off the seamers though. Several of their middle-order batsmen got the starts including Bavuma who scored 27 off 33 but it was Klaseen who really upped the ante with his aggressive approach.
He struck two fours and four sixes during his 21-ball stay that helped them to a competitive total.
Krunal Pandya (2/23) and Deepak Chahar (2/42) shared four wickets between them while Yuzvendra Chahal and Shardul Thakur chipped in with a wicket each.
India A lead the five-match series 2-0 having won the opening two fixtures.
Brief Scores: South Africa A 207/8 (Heinrich Klaasen 44, Janneman Malan 37, Matthew Breetzke 36; Krunal Pandya 2/23) vs India A
