Kedar Jadhav's stroke-filled 91 was the cornerstone of a collective batting performance by India A as they comfortably beat Vijay Hazare Trophy champions Gujarat by six wickets to enter the final of the Deodhar Trophy one day cricket tournament on Wednesday in Kanpur.
India A will meet India B in the final Thursday.
Batting first, Gujarat managed a decent 272 in 49.2 overs, riding on skipper Parthiv Patel's second List A century. Parthiv scored 119 off 125 balls with 16 boundaries.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra grabbed 3/48 in 9.2 overs, while off-spinner Parvez Rasool had equally impressive figures of 3/47 from nine overs.
In reply, India A scored the runs in only 47.2 overs with India discard Kedar smashing an unbeaten 61-ball-91 that was studded with 11 boundaries and two sixes.
India A captain Ambati Rayudu also played well for his 75 off 89 balls with nine boundaries and a six, while left-handed opener Faiz Fazal chipped in with 53 off 71 deliveries.
Experienced pair of Rayudu and Jadhav added 83 runs for the fourth wicket after India A were slightly in a spot at 124 for three.
Once Rayudu was out, Jadhav upped the ante in company of Naman Ojha as they added 66 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket partnership in 8.2 overs, to finish off the match in style.
Brief Scores:
Gujarat: 272 in 49.2 overs (Parthiv Patel 119, Parvez Rasool 3/47, Amit Mishra 3/48) vs India A: 273/4 in 47.2 overs (Kedar Jadhav 91, Ambati Rayudu 75, Faiz Fazal 53).
Image: India A batsman Kedar Jadhav
Photograph: BCCI
