S African team laid low by tummy bug in India

Mandeep put on South African jersey and fielded from 31.2 overs of India A innings as they successfully chased down 245 to win the match by 8 wickets in 37.4 overs.

Mandeep Singh wore the jersey of Eddie Leie and made his way into the field with a wide grin on his face.

Even though South Africa were forced into playing Quinton de Kock who had arrived only on Saturday, they still fell.

The situation was so bad that, with half of the squad falling ill overnight, South Africa A were forced to field their video analyst Henrikus Coertzen as well as India A’s Mandeep Singh.

Reeza Hendricks, Mthokozisi Shezi and Khaya Zondo had to play despite being sick because nobody else was available but all three were hospitalised during the course of the match.

Among those admitted to the hospital are internationals Quinton de Kock and Wayne Parnel and Cricket South Africa is contemplating rushing players to India so that their A team can complete its matches.

Acceding to a request from South Africa, the BCCI has made a change in the schedule of the tri-series.

South Africa, on the other hand, were totally exposed by the Aussies in their first encounter after being dismissed for 171 with opener Rezze Hendricks making 43. After four overs, two of which were maidens, India only had two runs on the board and Viljoen was unlucky in that a claimed catch by Theunis de Bruyn at second slip, offered by Mayank Agarwal, could not be confirmed by TV replays and thus the umpire stayed with his original soft indication of “not out”.

With the Proteas set to embark on a 72-day trip to India in October, the decision to send their out-of-form wicket-keeper batsman de Kock with the touring South Africa “A” for the tri-series proved to be a masterstroke.

India A: Massachusetts Agarwal c Vilas b Tsotsobe 130, UBT Chand lbw b Elgar 90, MK Pandey not out 9, KK Nair not out 4.

Though the South African selectors would be anxious about the health of their players, the splendid hundred from de Kock would have given them something to cheer about.