Eman 
Dual Century Masterclass: Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Moonsamy Power SA A to Dominant Win
ZeeaK 
Final Match Report: SA A’s Batting Power Prevails in Rajkot Thriller
The final unofficial 50-over match of the series saw South Africa A put forth an exceptional batting performance, securing a 73-run win over the Indian side at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. Despite the loss, India A had already clinched the series 2-1. The outcome of this contest was determined by a massive initial partnership that proved impossible to overcome.
First Innings: Historic 242-Run Stand
Captain Tilak Varma’s choice to field first was immediately countered by the visiting openers, who were unstoppable for nearly 38 overs.
- Dominant Duo: Openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Rivaldo Moonsamy batted with supreme confidence, forging an enormous 242-run partnership, effectively eliminating any early pressure on the visitors.
- Pretorius’s Aggression: Pretorius was the chief architect of the innings, striking a destructive 123 runs off just 98 deliveries.
- Moonsamy’s Milestone: Moonsamy provided the perfect foil, compiling a measured 107 runs at a steadier pace, ensuring the foundation was rock-solid.
- Late Wicket Burst: India A finally broke through when Prasidh Krishna dismissed both centurions in the same over. Harshit Rana (2 wickets) added to the momentum, but a quick cameo from Delano Potgieter (30 runs) pushed South Africa A to a daunting 325 for 6.
India A Chase: Partnership Not Enough
India A needed a record chase to match the power shown by the visitors, but they faltered against disciplined spin bowling.
- Shaky Top Order: The chase struggled to gain traction after opener Abhishek Sharma fell early. The crucial wickets of Ruturaj Gaikwad (Player of the Series) and Captain Tilak Varma were claimed by Bjorn Fortuin, leaving the score at 82 for 4 after Riyan Parag departed.
- Kishan-Badoni Revival: The innings was revitalized by the highest partnership of the day for the hosts—an 88-run alliance between Ishan Kishan (53 off 67 balls) and Ayush Badoni (66 off 66 balls). Both batsmen struck well-deserved fifties, bringing stability back to the chase.
- Spin Decides the Game: The chase unravelled immediately after Kishan was dismissed. Leg-spinner Nqabayomzi Peter was instrumental, claiming a critical 4 wickets for 48 runs to dismantle the lower-middle order.
- Final Margin: Despite a late fight by Manav Suthar and Prasidh Krishna (23 runs each), the target proved too distant. India A finished on 252, losing by a margin of 73 runs.
Brief Scores:
South Africa A 325/6 (Pretorius 123, Moonsamy 107; Rana 2-47) defeated India A 252 (Badoni 66, Kishan 53; Peter 4-48) by 73 runs.
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Image Credits : Cricbuzz
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