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Agarwal shines as India 'A' beat South Africans in T20 warm-up

Last updated on: September 29, 2015 21:18 IST

Mayank Agarwal and Manan Vora during their innings against South Africa in the warm-up match on Tuesday

IMAGE: Mayank Agarwal and Manan Vora during their innings against South Africa in the warm-up match on Tuesday. Photograph: BCCI/Twitter

Mayank Agarwal hammered a 49-ball 87 as India ‘A’ beat the touring South Africans in their opening warm-up T20 game by eight wickets, with two balls to spare, at the Air Force ground, in Palam, Delhi, on Tuesday.

Chasing 190 for victory, the home team was well-served by openers Agarwal and Manan Vora (56), who laid the foundation for victory with a rollicking 119-run opening wicket stand.

Earlier, JP Duminy (68 not out), Faf du Plessis (42 retired hurt) punished the Indian bowlers as the Proteas put up 189 for 3 in their 20 overs.

After Tuesday’s knock, Mayank, who has done well in limited-overs (List A and T20) for India ‘A’ over the last two months, will fancy his chances of being named among the 30 probables for World T20 next year.

With the South African bowlers finding it difficult to bowl in the humid conditions, Agarwal and Vora raced to a century-plus stand in 12.4 overs, which eventually was instrumental in the hosts emerging triumphant.

On a pitch that had even bounce, seamers Kylie Abbott, Chris Morris and Kagiso Rabada failed to hit the right length and Agarwal and Vora, both IPL specialists, found it easy to deal with short of length deliveries as they cut and pulled with equal disdain.

Leg-spinners Imran Tahir and Eddie Leie also were unable to find their length and repeatedly dispatched to the ropes.

Vohra was out after scoring 56 off 42 balls, which included eight fours and a six,  his first significant T20 innings in a year.

Agarwal, however, combined with Sanju Samson (31 not out), adding 52 for the second wicket.

Just when he was looking good for a century, having reached 87 -- which included 12 boundaries and two sixes, he was caught at deep mid-wicket by David Miller off Merchant de Lange.

Skipper Mandeep Singh then finished the job, remaining unbeaten on 12.

Scorecard

South Africans

AB de Villiers c Negi b Kuldeep 37

Q de Kock run out 2

F du Plessis retired hurt 42

JP Duminy not out 68

D Miller b Pandya 10

F Behardien not out 17

Extras: (B-1, LB-7, W-5) 13

Total: (for 3 wickets; 20 overs) 189

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-90, 3-106.

Bowling: Anureet Singh 4-0-49-0, R Dhawan 3-0-33-0, Y Chahal 4-0-31-0, P Negi 3-0-26-0, Kuldeep Yadav 4-0-26-1, H Pandya 2-0-16-1.

India ‘A’

Manan Vohra c Behardien b Duminy 56

Mayank Agarwal c Miller b de Lange 87

Sanju Samson not out 31

Mandeep Singh not out 12

Extras: (LB-1, W-4, NB-2) 7

Total: (For 2 wkts; 19.4 overs) 193

Fall of wickets: 1-119, 2-171.

Bowling: Kyle Abbott 4-0-43-0, Kagiso Rabada 3-0-33-0, Chris Morris 3-0-20-0, M de Lange 2.4-0-25-1, Imran Tahir 3-0-26-0, Eddie Leie 2-0-23-0, JP Duminy 2-0-22-1.

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