Dhoni’s footsteps; India A also go down by 1 run

A sense of Déjà vu struck Indian Cricket when India A lost by 1 run to Australia A in the Quadrangular Cricket series at Mackay in Australia.

Couple of days earlier MS Dhoni top edged a Bravo slower one to short thirdman when India needed 2 runs of the last delievery in the first T20 in Florida, this time around another Indian wicket-keeper batsman, Sanju Samson, failed to get his team over the line in the final over.

Uncanny similarities gripped over the first T20 between India and West Indies at Florida and the fifty overs match between India A and Australia A at Mackay, Australia. Chasing a stiiff target of 322, India A fell short by a solitary run, just like the men-in blue; who had suffered a heart breaking 1 run defeat in its first ever appearance in the USA.

The similarities doesn’t end there. This time it was skipper Manish Pandey’s valiant century which went in vain. His Karnataka team mate KL Rahul had also ended up on the losing side despite scoring the second fastest century in T20 internationals in Florida.

The defeat however, will not do any harm to the Rahul Dravid coached side as it had already qualified for the final of the Quadrangular Cricket series involving Australia A, South Africa A and Cricket Australia’s National Performance Squad.

Put in to bat, Australia A made a commanding 322 for six, riding on twin centuries from Kurtis Patterson (115) and Nic Maddinson (118) with Varun Aaron proving to be the most expensive Indian bowler being hammered for 65 in seven overs.

In reply, India A finished at 321 for 8 in 50 overs despite Pandey’s 91-ball 110 and an attractive 74-ball 87 from Sanju Samson.

India A required 9 runs off the final over and they got 6 from the first four balls. With only 3 runs required from 2 balls, Samson was hold out by Marcus Stoinis off his former Rajasthan Royals colleague Kane Richardson’s delivery. With 3 required off the final delivery, Richardson bowled to a perfect plan as Jayant Yadav could manage only 1 run as Shardul Thakur was run-out trying to go for a second run which would have tied the match.

It was the skipper’s dismissal in the 47th over that turned things as pacer Daniel Worral got him caught behind.

The momentum of the innings was lost at that stage as Samson, who also hit six boundaries and two sixes, couldn’t take the team past finishing line.

It was the second time in a span of two days when an Indian side managed to lose after getting to a winning position.