On a sun-drenched Thursday afternoon at Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, cricket fans witnessed a dramatic contest as India A edged out South Africa A by four wickets in the first unofficial ODI of their three-match series. The hosts chased down a challenging 286-run target with just three balls to spare, thanks to a masterful century by Ruturaj Gaikwad and a nerveless lower-order finish.
The match, played on November 13, 2025, promised fireworks from the outset, and it certainly delivered. South Africa A’s captain Marques Ackerman won the toss and, perhaps with a touch of optimism, chose to bat first. But the visitors’ innings began on a disastrous note—Arshdeep Singh, the left-arm pacer from Punjab, struck with the very first ball, dismissing Rubin Hermann for a duck. A couple of balls later, a sharp piece of fielding from Tilak Varma saw Jordan Hermann run out before he could trouble the scorers. By the end of the second over, South Africa A had slumped to a shocking three wickets down for zero runs, with all three wickets falling for ducks.
Prasidh Krishna then added to South Africa’s woes, removing skipper Ackerman with a well-directed delivery caught at slip. The scoreboard read 3/3, and the visitors were staring down the barrel. Sinethemba Qeshile and Rivaldo Moonsamy tried to steady the ship, but Arshdeep returned to rattle Moonsamy’s stumps, leaving South Africa A at 16 for four in just five overs. When Qeshile fell to the spin of Nishant Sindhu, South Africa A were reeling at 53 for five by the 12th over.
But cricket, as ever, is a game of partnerships. Enter Dian Forrester and Delano Potgieter. The pair, showing remarkable composure, began the painstaking task of rebuilding the innings. Forrester, mixing aggression with patience, reached his half-century in just 53 balls, while Potgieter found his rhythm after a cautious start. Together, they added a vital 113 runs for the sixth wicket, frustrating the Indian bowlers and dragging their team back into the contest.
Forrester eventually departed for a gritty 77, caught behind off Riyan Parag, but the momentum had shifted. Potgieter, now joined by the experienced Bjorn Fortuin, continued the counter-attack. Potgieter reached his fifty at a brisk strike rate, peppering the boundary with seven fours and showing why he’s considered one of South Africa’s brightest prospects. Fortuin joined the party with a quickfire 59, and their 87-run partnership for the seventh wicket propelled South Africa A to a competitive 285 for nine at the end of their 50 overs.
For India A, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana were the pick of the bowlers, each claiming two wickets. Prasidh Krishna’s early scalp of Ackerman proved significant, while Sindhu’s clever spin accounted for Qeshile. Despite the early carnage, the visitors’ lower order had set India A a tricky chase.
India A’s reply got off to a flying start. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma put together a brisk 64-run opening stand, with Abhishek’s 31 off just 25 balls setting the tone. The left-hander’s aggressive intent forced South Africa A’s bowlers onto the back foot, but his dismissal to Fortuin brought captain Tilak Varma to the crease. Varma, known for his calm under pressure, added a steady 39, while Gaikwad anchored the innings at the other end.
Gaikwad’s innings was a clinic in pacing a chase. Out of the senior ODI and T20 squads for a while, he made a compelling case for a recall with a fluent 117 off 129 balls, peppered with 12 boundaries. He rotated the strike expertly, punished loose deliveries, and never allowed the required rate to climb out of reach. Even as wickets tumbled around him—Riyan Parag (8) and Tilak Varma (39) both fell at crucial junctures—Gaikwad’s presence kept the chase alive.
As the innings entered its final phase, the tension ratcheted up. Gaikwad eventually fell with India still needing 67 runs from 54 balls, and Ishan Kishan’s quick departure threatened to unravel the chase. But Nitish Kumar Reddy, who had recently joined the squad after being released from the India Test team, played a gem of a cameo. His 37 off 26 balls was full of intent, featuring clean hitting and sharp running between the wickets.
At the other end, Nishant Sindhu remained unflappable. His unbeaten 29 from 26 deliveries ensured that, even as the pressure mounted, India A kept their noses in front. Together, Reddy and Sindhu pieced together a crucial partnership, whittling down the target with calculated aggression. With just three balls left in the match, Sindhu struck the winning runs, sparking celebrations in the India A dugout.
Reflecting on the match, it was clear that Gaikwad’s century was the backbone of the chase, but the contributions of Reddy and Sindhu in the closing stages were equally vital. According to NDTV Sports, "Ruturaj Gaikwad shone with a century as India A beat South Africa A by 4 wickets in the first unofficial ODI of the three-match series." The match also saw notable performances from the South African lower order, with Potgieter’s 90 and Forrester’s 77 forming the backbone of their recovery.
On the bowling front, Arshdeep Singh’s early breakthroughs set the tone for India A, while Harshit Rana’s disciplined spells kept the run rate in check. For South Africa A, Fortuin’s all-round effort—59 runs and the wicket of Abhishek Sharma—stood out, though their bowlers struggled to contain Gaikwad and the late-order Indian batters.
With this victory, India A take a 1-0 lead in the series. The two teams will lock horns again in the second unofficial ODI, scheduled for Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the same venue. Fans will be eager to see if South Africa A can bounce back or if India A will continue their winning momentum.
In the end, this contest had everything—early drama, a middle-order resurgence, a centurion anchoring a tense chase, and a finish that kept everyone guessing until the final over. As the teams gear up for the next fixture, one thing’s for certain: the series is well and truly alive, and Rajkot’s cricket faithful can expect more fireworks in the days to come.
