The India Under-19 team’s World Cup title defence was dealt another blow on Wednesday when it suffered its second straight defeat in a warm-up game against South Africa, losing by five wickets, at the ICC Academy ground n Dubai.
Put in to bat, the Indians, beaten by their Sri Lankan counterparts by five wickets in their opening warm-up match, scored a none-too-impressive 234 for six in the stipulated 50 overs.
Skipper Vijay Zol top-scored with 59, but was guilty of wasting a lot of deliveries as he consumed 99 of them and hit only six fours.
Ricky Bhui struck 56 off 71 balls, inclusive of eight fours, but it was Sarfaraz Khan (53 not out, 36 balls, 7x4) and Deepak Hooda 25 not out, who added 78 runs in 9.5 overs to take the total beyond the 225-run mark.
In reply, the South Africans comfortably coasted home, with 33 deliveries to spare.
Opener Clyde Fortuin anchored the chase with a run-a-ball 112 that had nine fours and three sixes.
Aiden Markram (41) and Greg Oldfield (35) also made useful contributions.
Brief scores:
India: 234-6 in 50 overs (Vijay Zol 59, Ricky Bhui 56, Sarafaraz Khan 53 not out)
South Africa: 235-6 in 43.3 overs (Clyde Fortuin 112 not out, Aiden Markram 41).
