India A thump NPS by 86 runs in Quadrangular Series

An all-round domination by India A saw them outclass rookies from Australia’s National Performance Squad (NPS) by 86 runs in the Quadrangular One day series here on Sunday.

Batting first, India A scored a healthy 304 for 7 in 50 overs. Opener Karun Nair top-scored with 72 off 85 balls with seven boundaries while Sanju Samson chipped in with 54 off 42 balls with three fours and three sixes.

In reply, NPS were bowled out for 218 in 46 overs despite a 108-run second wicket stand between Healton Cartwright (65) and Sam Heazlett (60).

Seamers Jaydev Unadkat (3/43) and Dhawal Kulkarni (3/38) were the most successful bowlers for India A. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took two for 45 in 10 overs.

This is India A’s second win in three matches having beaten South Africa A in the last game. With the bonus point, the points tally is 9 from 3 games and they are very much in contention to play the final.

Earlier, India A’s innings had two significant partnerships — 74 for the second wicket between Karun and Shreyas Iyer (45) while another 69 was added for the fifth wicket between Samson and Kedar Jadhav (45).

It was Axar Patel’s 7-ball-15 with a six and a four that saw India A cross the 300-run mark.