Hat-trick hero Kuldeep, Shaw help India ‘A’ seal one-day series

CHENNAI: Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav picked up a four-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, while opener Prithvi Shaw smashed a belligerent half-century as India ‘A’ sealed the three-match one-day series against New Zealand ‘A’ with a four-wicket victory in the second game at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Sunday.

The Sanju Samson-led India ‘A’, which had won the series opener by seven wickets at the same venue on Thursday, now holds an unassailable 2-0 lead. Invited to field first on Sunday, the home team bowled the visitor out for 219, courtesy of Kuldeep (4/51 off 10 overs) who cleaned up the tail in his last two overs.

In the chase, Shaw (77 off 48 balls, 11 fours, 3 sixes) made mincemeat of the New Zealand ‘A’ bowlers to help India ‘A’ cruise home in just 34 overs. The host was in a spot of bother at 180 for six, but experienced all-rounders Rishi Dhawan (22 not out) and Shardul Thakur (25 not out) took their team past the finish line.

After an uninspiring batting performance in the first one-day match, New Zealand ‘A’ gave a better account of itself, thanks to half-centuries from opening batter Rachin Ravindra (61 off 65 balls, 9 fours) and No.4 Joe Carter (72 off 80 balls, 1 four, 3 sixes).

But, Kuldeep stole the show in the first essay by bagging the last four wickets in double quick time. The 27-year-old wrist spinner first removed Sean Solia (28), who attempted a reverse sweep only to find debutant Raj Bawa at point.

Logan van Beek, Joe Walker and Jacob Duffy fell prey to Kuldeep off successive deliveries in the 47th over. Van Beek (4) handed a simple catch to Shaw at cover and Walker (0) was caught behind while Duffy (0) was trapped leg before wicket.

In the run-chase, Shaw put India ‘A’ in a position of dominance, before the home team suffered a middle-order collapse. Shaw, who scored all over the park, first stitched an 82-run alliance with his opening partner Ruturaj Gaikwad (30) and then accumulated 49 for the second wicket with Rajat Patidar (20).

The host lost five wickets in a span of just 49 runs – 131 for one to 180 for six – but Dhawan and Thakur kept their calm to accrue 42 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket. Samson was the second-best scorer for India ‘A’, with a 35-ball 37 (4 fours, 2 sixes).

BRIEF SCORES: New Zealand ‘A’ 219 in 47 overs (J Carter 72, R Ravindra 61, Kuldeep 4/51) lost to India ‘A’ 222/6 in 34 overs (P Shaw 77, L van Beek 3/46)