Pretoria: Despite Suresh Raina (83 off 79 balls), Ambati Rayudu (70 off 56 balls) and Rohit Sharma (66 off 87 balls) scoring half centuries, India A lost to Asutralia A by a narrow margin of seven runs in a thrilling match of the ODI tri-series here on Thursday.
Batting first, Asutralia A rode on the scintillating century (145 off from 79 balls) from Glenn Maxwell and posted a huge total of 298 runs. In reply, India A were restricted to 291 for 8 in the allotted 50 overs.
Nathan Coultier-Nile was the pick of the bowler for Asutralia A as the pacer took three for 37 in 10 overs. Nile bowled brilliantly towards the end as he got two wickets in the 49th over which also proved to be maiden. India required just 16 from the last two overs with Rayudu at the crease but the over from Nile proved to be the turning point as Rayudu, who hit five fours and two sixes in his 56-ball knock, was dismissed by Coultier-Nile off the first delivery of the 49th over. Thereafter, Stuart Binny wasted three deliveries before he falling to Coultier-Nile in the same over. With 16 to get off the last over, it was too much to ask from Mohammed Shami and Siddharth Kaul.
Brief scores: Australia ‘A’ 298 for eight in 50 overs (Glenn Maxwell 145 n.o., Nic Maddinson 52) bt India ‘A’ 291 for eight (Suresh Raina 83, Ambati Rayudu 70, Rohit Sharma 66, Nathan Coultier-Nile three for 37).