One way traffic in Laudium for India `A'

A contrast in professionalism played itself out at the pleasant Laudium Oval with India `A' convincingly defeating a South African Presidents XI by seven wickets in a 50 overs match. Set to make 183, the target was reached in the 35 th over.

From the time they won the toss India `A' showed their discipline and love for the game by continually keeping the South Africans under pressure. Excellent disciplined bowling spells from Rakesh Patel and Muri Kartik, ably assisted by Mohammed Kaif forced the South Africans to take chances.

Wickets tumbled at regular intervals during the South African XI innings and it was left to Albie Morkel (50*) and Zahir Abrahim (11*) to get some substance back into the innings with sensible batting in the last 18 overs. The two put on a partnership of 63 to leave the Presidents men on 182/7. Loots Bosman (38) the only other batsmen to show any commitment.

With a small target to defend you would expect the bowling side to be as miserly as possible, but within the first 10 overs 12 extra balls had been bowled, making a small target even smaller. By the end of the match the bowlers had bowled 24 no balls and wides. A sign of the times for South African cricket with no bowlers of substance coming through the network A truly unprofessional display in the field.

Some success however for Abrahim taking the wickets of Gautam Gambhir (30) and Amit Pagnis (10) before Muhammad Kaif (76) and Jacob Martin (21*) took the game by the scruff of the neck. A whirlwind 12* off five balls from Yuvraj Singh put the spectators out of their misery and took the visitors to their first win on the tour.