Nair guides India A to win, level series

POTCHEFSTROOM: Skipper Karun Nair anchored a tricky chase with a polished90 as India A beat South Africa A by six wickets in the second ‘unofficial’ Test to level the two-match series 1-1.

Chasing a target of 224, India A took 62.3 overs to cross the line in 62.3 overs as Nair got rid of wretched form hitting 13 boundaries in 144 balls. Nair’s state mate and opener Ra vi kumar Sam ar th (55),hit his second half-century of the match and added crucial 74 runs for the third wicket with Nair.The match-winning stand was the 93 runs for the 4 th wicket between Nair and Ankit Bawne (32). Bawne held one end, consuming 92 balls hitting five boundaries in the process.

When Nair was finally gone, India needed only two runs for victory.

However, the Indian bowlers deserve more credit for setting up the victory after the SA second innings got terminated at 177 with the hosts losing last five wickets for 39 runs, starting the day at 138 for 4.