Menaria leads India 'A' to 3-0 whitewash of New Zealand 'A'

Visakhapatnam: Ashok Menaria and Kedar Jadhav cracked half centuries to enable India ‘A’ inflict a 3-0 whitewash on New Zealand ‘A’ with a thrilling two-wicket victory in the third and final unofficial ODI match here today. India completed the task with four balls to spare with Mandeep Singh playing a 27-ball unbeaten 37-run cameo towards the end. He hit three boundaries and a six during the all-important knock. [caption id=“attachment_1104859” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Unmukt Chand captained India to yet another series win. Getty Images[/caption] Chasing a stiff 291-run target, the Indians suffered a top-order collapse before all-rounder Menaria scored a quickfire 69 off 52 balls that included two fours and eight sixes. He was involved in a brilliant 128-run fifth wicket stand off just 107 balls with Jadhav (57), which denied the Black Caps a consolation win. A late counter-attack by Mandeep then made sure that the hosts won the match comfortably. Having sealed the three-match ODI series already, India tested their bench strength today by giving a chance to spinner Jalaj Saxena and batsman Sanju Samson. Earlier, opener Anton Devcich top-scored for New Zealand A with a 85-ball 66, studded with eight boundaries, while Corey J Anderson (59) and skipper Tom Latham (53) also hit half centuries each to contribute to the team’s total after India A asked them to bat. The Indians were sloppy on the field today as they dropped two catches, including that of Anderson’s to allow the New Zealand post a huge total of 290 for nine. Basant Mohanty (2/39), Menaria (2/45) and Jalaj Saxena (2/60) picked up two wickets each for India A. In reply, India lost four wickets for just 79 runs on the board in 19.2 overs, despite opener Robin Uthappa scoring a fine 50-ball 46 with the help of six fours and a six. Skipper Chand, who led by example in the series, scoring 94 and 59 in the first two ODIs, failed today, getting out for just 11. Menaria walked into the middle after Uthappa and Sachin Baby (16) were dismissed in successive overs. The left-handed batsman fired from the word go and accelerated the run-rate by hitting three sixes off Todd Astle’s first over before punishing him again for two consecutive maximums – one over long on and another over long off – in his very next over. From 79 for four in 19.2 overs, Menaria, in the able company of Jadhav, helped his team score 100 more runs in the next 12 overs. Firing on all cylinders, Menaria hit a four off Devcich to bring up his half-century in just 26 balls with the help of two fours and six sixes. Jadhav, meanwhile, got a life when he was dropped on 30 off Ish Sodhi’s over. He capitalised on the advantage to hit a solid 57 off 61 balls (5X4, 2X6). But just when it seemed as if India A would have a cakewalk, the hosts suddenly lost two wickets in one over with Jadhav getting run out and Scott Kuggeleijn picking the prized wicket of Menaria off the fourth ball of the over with the scorecard reading 207 for six, still needing 84 runs for victory. Mandeep then played with a lot of responsibility and was well-supported by Jalaj Saxena (19) and Rahul Sharma (20). He shared a solid 35-run stand with Saxena for the seventh wicket, before putting on another valuable 47-run partnership with Rahul for the eighth wicket. Mark Gillespie was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand ‘A’ with figures of three for 43. Brief scores New Zealand A: 290 for nine in 50 overs (Anton Devcich 66, Corey Anderson 59; Basant Mohanty 2/39). India A: 291 for eight in 49.2 overs (Ashok Menaria 69, Kedar Jadhav 57; Mark Gillespie 3/43). PTI