Openers Mayank Agarwal, Manan Vohra hit blazing half-centuries to defeat South Africa in practice match; JP Duminy shines with bat for visitors
This is the new IPL (Indian Premier League) generation that is fearless and doesn't take get overawed by any opposition. The debate can go on whether IPL has deteriorated the quality of batting or, for that matter, cricket. But, that could be done some other day.
On Tuesday, the new kids on the block – Mayank Agarwal and Manan Vohra – taught the visiting South African players their first lessons on Indian soil by chasing down the Proteas' score of 189/3 by losing just two wickets. The fearless mindset of Agarwal and Vohra set the tone early in the innings, thrashing the Proteas' attack to all parts of the ground by adding 119 for the opening wicket in just 12.4 overs.
Packed with some proven T20 performers in AB de Villiers (37), JP Duminy (68*) and Faf du Plessis (42 retired hurt), it was certainly not an easy score to chase. But both Agarwal (87, 49b, 12x4, 2x6) and Vohra (56, 42b, 8x4, 1x6) made short work of the Proteas' total, hitting attacking half-centuries on a slow-paced Palam surface to chase down the target with two balls to spare.
This was a good lesson for the touring bowlers – Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada, Chris Morris and Marchant de Lange – getting to know that even a score like 190 to defend could well not be sufficient during next two-and-a-half months. Even two leg-spinners in the squad – the experienced Imran Tahir (0/26 in three overs) and his junior Eddie Leie (0/23 in two) – could hardly bring any respite to the tourists and conceded 49 runs in the five overs they bowled between themselves.
Agarwal benefited from his practice days at the Air Force Sports Complex Ground with Delhi Daredevils, having known the pitch and the size of the field. Vohra, too, hit his first T20 fifty in the last one year.
Agarwal has been in the form of his life with big knocks for India 'A' recently in the tri-series against South Africa 'A' and Australia 'A', and scoring his first ton in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL). In the tri-series, the 24-year-old Bengalurian had scored a mammoth 399 runs from four matches, including knocks of 176 and 130 against South Africa 'A'.
"It's great to score against a quality international side. I just backed my attacking instinct. I know the South African side has some quality international bowlers, but I was just playing my natural game. Disappointed to miss out on hundred but happy to score against the world-class side," Agarwal said after the match.
Brief scores: South Africans: 189/3 in 20 overs (AB de Villiers 37, F du Plessis 42, JP Duminy 68*) lost to India A: 193/2 in 19.4 overs (M Vohra 56, Agarwal 87, S Samson 31*)
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