Manish Pandey fifty hands India A unassailable lead

A counterattacking 59-ball 81 from Manish Pandey helped India A to an unassailable three-nil lead over South Africa A, as they ran down a target of 208 with four wickets and 13 balls remaining. The match in Thiruvananthapuram was reduced to 30 overs, and the hosts were tottering at 26 for 3, having lost Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ricky Bhui and allrounder Krunal Pandya within seven overs when Pandey joined Ishan Kishan in the middle. The duo not only brought respectability to the chase but also kept abreast of the required run rate, adding 70 in just 49 balls before the wicketkeeper fell to the left-arm spin of George Linde for 40.

Next man in Nitish Rana departed for a run-a-ball 13, leaving Pandey, who had gone past fifty by then, in the company of left-hander, Shivam Dube. Dube didn't disappoint as he got going immediately, clearing the ropes off just his eighth delivery. Though Pandey fell to the left-arm spin of Bjorn Fortuin - for the only fifty of the match - with 34 still required, by this time the equation was just over a manageable run-a-ball. But Dube knocked off the target with plenty to spare, finishing unbeaten on 45 off 28.

The visitors had relied on a series of small contributions from their top and middle order to set a challenging target. There were no fifties as Heinrich Klaasen top scored with a 21-ball 44 that included four hits over the fence and two fours. Opener Janneman Malan and No. 3 Matthew Breetzke were guilty of squandering starts but at least each of their thirties came at faster than a run-a-ball. For India A, pacer Deepak Chahar and Krunal, with his left-arm spin, picked up two wickets apiece, but Krunal was by far the most effective bowler in the match, having gone at under five an over.

The fourth unofficial ODI will be played in two days time at the same venue.