Punjab’s Gurkeerat Guides India A to 96-run Victory Over B’desh A

Gurkeerat Singh scored a 58-ball 65 and picked 5 wickets as India A beat Bangladesh A by 96 runs.

India ‘A’ player Gurkeerat Singh celebrates the wicket of Liton Das with his teammates during the 1st unofficial ODI against Bangladesh ‘A’. (Photo: PTI)

Punjab youngster Gurkeerat Singh’s all-round brilliance enabled India A to comfortably crush Bangladesh A by 96 runs in the first One Dayer of the three-match series in Bangalore on Wednesday.

The talented Gurkeerat contributed a quickfire 58-ball 65 to ensure a commanding total of 322 for seven for the hosts, and then effectively bowled his off-breaks to return figures of 5/29 in 7.3 overs as the visitors were bowled out for 226 in 42.3 overs.

Gurkeerat’s five-for, in fact, was his best figures in List A as the last five Bangladeshi wickets fell for just 19 runs to him.

India ‘A’ player Gurkeerat Singh Maan showing the ball after he took 5 wickets in the 1st unofficial ODI against Bangladesh ‘A’ at Chinnaswamy Stadium. (Photo: PTI)

Much was expected of India’s limited overs specialist Suresh Raina, who was coming into competitive match after a three-month rest, but he looked completely rusty during his 28-ball 16.

It was Gurkeerat along with young Sanju Samson (73) and Rishi Dhawan (56), who steadied the innings as India were reduced to 125 for five at the halfway stage after opener Mayank Agarwal (56)‘s steady innings.

India A’s Sanju Samson celebrates his fifty runs during the 1st unofficial ODI against Bangladesh ‘A’ at Chinnaswamy Stadium. (Photo: PTI)

India A’s Rishi Dhawan celebrates his fifty runs during the 1st unofficial ODI against Bangladesh ‘A’ at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. (Photo: PTI)

This was the 25-year-old Gurkeerat’s second successive Man-of-the-Match performance after his unbeaten 87 won India A the tri-series final against Australia A.

His 58-ball innings had nine boundaries as he added 102 runs in 14.5 overs with Samson and another 78 in eight overs with Dhawan whose 56 came off 34 balls with eight fours and two sixes. Dhawan also did well with the ball getting 2/51 in eight overs.