Uthappa, Chand star as hosts beat NZ A by six wickets
India discard Robin Uthappa slammed a sparkling century as India ‘A’ recorded a comprehensive six-wicket victory over New Zealand ‘A’ in the first of the three-match unofficial ODI series here on Sunday.
Uthappa (103) shared a 178-run rollicking opening wicket stand with captain Unmukt Chand (94) from 30 overs to shut the game on New Zealand who were all out for 257 in 49.4 overs after electing to bat.
India ‘A’ chased down the target of 258 with 5.5 overs to spare as Uthappa and Chand produced a scintillating exhibition of strokeplay at Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium.
Uthappa, who was dropped on 93, struck eight fours and five sixes from 114 balls, while Chand’s 88-ball innings was studded with nine fours and six sixes. Aditya Tare was the other notable contributor with a 42-ball unbeaten 37.
Chand and Uthappa scored at a decent pace, reaching 48 for no loss by the end of the 10th over before they stepped up the gas and picked the India-born leg-spinner Inderbir Singh Sodhi for special treatment.
The duo took 15 and 16 runs in the 21st and 23rd overs bowled by Sodhi as India were 141 for no loss at halfway mark.
Brief Scores
India A: 261 for 4 (Uthappa 103, Chand 94, Milne 3-43) beat New Zealand A: 257 (Mitchell 51, Kulkarni 3-38, Menaria 3-43, Rahul Sharma 3-45) by six wickets.