Heinrich Klaasen’s commendable 127 steers South Africa A to 266 against India A

South Africa's middle-order batsman Heinrich Klaasen, who played a commendable knock of 127, allowed the hosts to finish on a challenging total of 266.

Following a shaky start to the innings, it was South Africa’s middle-order batsman Heinrich Klaasen, who played a commendable knock of 127, allowing the hosts to finish on a challenging total of 266, against visitors India A, in the fifth One-Day game at the Groenkloof Stadium in Pretoria on Thursday. Apart from Klaasen, it was Willem Mulder, who too played a steady innings of 66, allowing South Africa to finish on 266, having been bowled out within 49 overs. India’s Shardul Thakur was the magician with the ball, claiming four for 35, while Siddarth Kaul claimed three for 41. FULL CRICKET UPDATES: India A vs South Africa A, Tri-Nation series, 5th ODI at Pretoria

Earlier, Indian skipper Manish Pandey won the toss and elected to field first as the decision turned out to be friutful. South African openers were off to a shaky start, with the opening wicket falling for just 10 runs on the board, as Reeza Hendricks was dismissed for a mere single by Thakur. Just eight runs later, he was followed by Jason Smith for mere four, while at the score of 20, it was fellow opener Henry Davids to fall for mere 17. At the score of 65, South Africa lost half of their side, with Farhaan Behardien being dismissed for an unfortunate duck by Kaul. LIVE CRICKET STREAMING: India A vs South Africa A, Tri-Nation series, 5th ODI at Pretoria

However, it was followed by a 63-run stand for the sixth wicket between Klaasen and Dwaine Pretorius, before the latter fell for mere 17 to Yuzvendra Chahal. It was again followed by a healthy 111-run stand for the seventh wicket between Klaasen and Willem Mulder, before Kaasen fell for 127, as it was his innings, that allowed South Africa to go past the 200-run mark. Following the fall of his wicket, it was nothing much to be done by the toher batsmen, except for Mulder, who scored his half-century and fell for 66.

Brief scores

South Africa A 266 for 10 in 48.2 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 127, Willem Mulder 66; Shardul Thakur 4 for 35, Siddarth Kaul 3 for 41) vs India A.

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