India-A all but sealed a place in the tri-nation series final with a commanding 101-run win over Afghanistan-A at the Rangiri International Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to a composed knock from Kumar Kushagra and a disciplined bowling effort.

Asked to bat, India-A recovered from a wobble to post 319 for nine. Half-centuries from Priyansh Arya (58, 42b, 9×4, 1×6), skipper Tilak Varma (59, 75b, 5×4) and Kushagra (58, 67b, 5×4) formed the backbone of the innings, with the 104-run fourth-wicket stand between Tilak and Kushagra proving decisive.

The changes to the XI paid off immediately. Priyansh, drafted in for Prabhsimran Singh, continued his impressive run at the top, while Kushagra justified his inclusion ahead of Ayush Badoni.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once again got a start but failed to convert it despite surviving a couple of chances. Ruturaj Gaikwad looked fluent before edging Abdollah Ahmadzai behind.

When wickets fell in quick succession, Kushagra remained calm and assured, rebuilding the innings alongside Tilak. The pair wrestled back control before Vipraj Nigam added late impetus with a brisk 30 off 20 balls to take India-A past 300.

Tilak Varma.
| Photo Credit:
SLC

The run chase began brightly. Hassan Eisakhil attacked Anshul Kamboj and Yash Thakur before mistiming a pull to Ruturaj at short mid-wicket. Khalid Taniwal and Imran Mir also got starts but failed to capitalise.

The chase remained alive through an 87-run fourth-wicket partnership between Bahir Shah and Faisal Shinozada. Just when Afghanistan-A threatened to mount a challenge, India-A struck back.

Anukul Roy tightened the screws in the middle overs, while Vipraj delivered key breakthroughs. The turning point came when Bahir departed soon after reaching a hard-fought fifty.

From there, Afghanistan-A unravelled as left-arm spinner Nishant Sindhu cleaned up the tail with four wickets, bowling out the side for 218.

The emphatic win lifted India-A to the top of the points table, ahead of Sri Lanka-A and Afghanistan-A on Net Run Rate, leaving it on the verge of a place in the final.

The scores: India-A 319/9 in 50 overs (Priyansh 58, Tilak 59, Kushagra 58) bt Afghanistan-A 218 in 36.5 overs (Shinozada 46, Bahir 57, Sindhu 4/31).

Toss: Afghanistan-A; PoM: Nishant Sindhu.