India A suffer narrow five-run defeat in 3rd ODI, lose series 1-2 to New Zealand A

It proved quite costly as pacer Kyle Jamieosn (4/49) knocked off Sandeep Warrier and Ishan Porel off consecutive balls to end the match with two balls to spare.

In the 49th over, India A lost well-set Axar Patel (32) and Rahul Chahar (0) to left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, as New Zealand snatched the momentum when it mattered the most.

India had got off to a good start with young opener Prithvi Shaw (55) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (44) putting on a confident 79-run stand for the opening wicket. Skipper Mayank Agarwal (22) got a start but could not convert it into a big knock.

Kyle Jamieson with 4-49 and Ajaz Patel with 3-44 backing up Mark Chapman’s 110 to help New Zealand A to One-Day Series win over India A by 5 runs at Hagley Oval. VIDEO scorecard | https://t.co/hwz5yo9Bmd #NZAvINDA pic.twitter.com/OVVC5d97ao

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 26, 2020

After the top three, only Kishan and Axar offered resistance as Suryakumar Yadav (5) and Vijay Shankar (19) could not last long.

New Zealand A’s left-arm spin duo of Ajaz Patel (3/44) and Rachit Ravindra (2/43) did considerable damage to India’s middle and lower order.

It was Mark Chapman, who got New Zealand back into the match with an unbeaten 110-run knock.

Mark Chapman with a vital 100 for New Zealand A! Helping push the team to 270 coming in at 6. Strong partnership with Todd Astle (56) and then a late flurry with Kyle Jamieson at Hagley Oval. VIDEO scorecard | https://t.co/hwz5yorcdL #NZAvINDA pic.twitter.com/BwzINsof3S

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 26, 2020

India had reduced the host to 68 for four and then 105 for six at one stage with dismissals at regular intervals but Chapman and Todd Astle (56) raised a 136-run partnership for the seven-wicket to put up a fighting total.

India A had won the opening ODI by five wickets while New Zealand rallied to win the next before clinching the series with Sunday’s victory.

The two teams will now play a two-match Test series, beginning in Christchurch from January 30.