THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Going into the final five overs, India A needed just 32 runs with seven wickets in hand. A batting collapse inspired by the impressive
Anrich Nortje, however, saw the visitors South Africa A pulling off a four-run win in the fourth one-dayer, their first win of the tour, at the Sports Hub here on Thursday. Chasing a DLS-adjusted target of 193 off 25 overs in a match that has gone into the reserve day, India A, who had already won the series, finished at 188/9. The series stands at 3-1 in favour of the hosts going into the final game on Friday.
Pacers Nortje (3/36),
Marco Jansen
(3/25) and Lutho Sipamla (3.55) starred with the ball for South Africa A. India A, who resumed the chase on the reserve day at 57 for one in 7.4 overs, looked on course when
Shikhar Dhawan raced to a half-century (52 off 43 balls; 4x8) supported by Prashant Chopra (26) and skipper
Shreyas Iyer (26).
Shivam Dube
continued his fine form and his 17-ball 31 (4x3, 6x2) all but sealed the deal. However, a flurry of dismissals saw the South Africans clawing back into the game.
Nortje dismissed Dube and Iyer in the 21st over followed by Sipamla's double strike in the next over, removing local favourite Sanju Samson (1) and Nitish Rana (1). Rahul Chahar (17 not out) waged a lone battle but with 15 needing from the final over, it was a bridge too far for the Rajasthan player.
Brief scores: South Africa A 137/1 in 25 overs (Reeza Hendricks 60 (70)*) bt India A 188/9 in 25 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 52 (43), Shivam Dube 31 (17); Marco Jansen 3/25, Anrich Nortje 3/36, Lutho Sipamla 3/55) by 4 runs (DLS method).