WI A v Ind A – 2nd T20
First Published : 25 Jun 2012, 12:44
Last Modified : 25 Jun 2012, 15:54
Mumbai desk, June 24: Ashok Dinda held his nerve to help India A edge West Indies A in the second T20 contest played between the two sides. With the home team needing only three runs off the last over with seven wickets in hand, Dinda bowled a terrific last six deliveries to help the visitors tie the game. Then, when the match went into the Super Over, Dinda helped restrict the hosts to a mere four runs after which India A knocked off the winning runs in three deliveries.
India A, who were put in to bat in this contest, reached a score of 154 for five in 20 overs thanks to a sparkling half-century from Ajinkya Rahane (79) and a solid 33 from Shikhar Dhawan. For West Indies A Sulieman Benn, who picked up the Man-of-the-Match award in the last T20 outing, was at his economical best and picked up two wickets.
In reply, Nkrumah Bonner, got the hosts off to a flying start as he smashed 82 off 65 balls with three fours and two sixes. Bonner forged an opening stand of 72 in nine overs with captain Kieran Powell before Powell was run out. The hosts had a bit of a slump thereafter with Rahul Sharma knocking over Danza Hyatt with the score on 101 and wicketkeeper Jonathan Carter falling for a duck off six balls.
Yet, with three required off the last over, West Indies A were favourites. But Dinda, after dismissing Bonner off the second ball of the over, conceded just one run in the last four balls to take the game into a Super Over. There, again, Dinda did a spectacular job, keeping the hosts down to just four runs with both Carter and Bonner being run out. Needing five to win off six deliveries, India lost Rohit Sharma to a first ball run out. However, with Sulieman Benn bowling two wides, the visitors won the contest in three balls.
The action between the two sides now shifts to the three-match one-day series. The first of these encounters will be played on June 27 at the National Cricket Stadium, St George’s, Grenada.
Brief scores: India A 154 for 5 (Rahane 79, Benn 2-23) tied with West Indies A 154 for 4 (Bonner 82, Dinda 1-23). India A win the Super-Over
Man-of-the-match: Sulieman Benn for his all-round performance; 4-0-24-3 and 17* off six deliveries
