India ‘A’ vs South Africa ‘A’ called off due to rain

MACKAY (AUSTRALIA): Rain played spoilsport as the OneDay match between India ‘A’ and South Africa ‘A’ was on Thursday abandoned after 35 overs in the first innings, taking the Manish Pandey-led side to the top of points table in the quadrangular contest.

Openers Mandeep Singh (29 of 51 balls) and Karun Nair (15 of 25 balls) put on 31 in eight overs before the latter was dismissed by Dwaine Pretorius.

One-down Shreyas Iyer (4) did not last long, edging to first slip off Andile Phehlukwayo, while Mandeep was bowled by medium-pacer Malusi Siboto. India were in trouble at 69 for 3 in the 20th over. India ‘A’ were rescued by a partnership of 70 from 15.1 overs between captain Pandey (47 off 73 balls) and Kedar Jadhav (41 not out off 53 balls). The stand was broken when Pandey was bowled by Phehlukwayo in the 35th over. Sanju Samson, yet to open account, was giving company to Jadhav when rain interrupted to put a premature end to the proceedings, giving the teams two points each.

For South Africa ‘A’, Phehlukwayo was the most successful bowler with figures of 2/23 while Pretorius and Siboto took wicket apiece. The first match at the same venue, between Australia ‘A’ and National Performance Squad, was also abandoned without a ball being bowled on Wednesday due to a wet and unsafe outfield.

India ‘A’ went on top of the table with 11 points from four matches, followed by NPS with 10, and South Africa ‘A’ and Australia ‘A’ with seven points each.