Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Moonsamy tons help South Africa A finish with a win

Centuries from Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Rivaldo Moonsamy in a 242-run opening stand set up South Africa A's victory in the final one-dayer against India A in Rajkot. The visitors, trailing 0-2 in the 50-over rubber, piled up 325 before closing out a 73-run win, helped by a four-wicket haul from Nqabayomzi Peter.

Tilak Varma's decision to bowl first didn't pay off as Pretorius and Moonsamy held firm for nearly three-quarters of the innings, adding 242 in 37.1 overs. Pretorius was the aggressor, smashing 123 off 98 balls with nine fours and six sixes. Moonsamy's 107 came at a steadier strike rate just over 80.

India A did hit back, first through Prasidh Krishna, who removed both centurions in the same over. Harshit Rana (2 for 48), the hosts' best bowler on the day, added two more wickets. It took a late cameo from Delano Potgieter - 30 off 15 - to push South Africa A beyond 320. For India, who used as many as eight bowlers, Khaleel Ahmed had an afternoon to forget despite picking up two wickets, going for 82.

The chase began brightly, with 31 on the board inside four overs, before Abhishek Sharma fell to Tshepo Moreki (3 for 58). Player of the Series Ruturaj Gaikwad then fell to Bjorn Fortuin, in a phase that also claimed Tilak Varma. And when Riyan Parag edged off to Potgieter, India A were slipping at 82 for 4.

Ishan Kishan and Ayush Badoni revived hopes with an 88-run stand, the highest of the innings. Kishan struck two sixes in his 67-ball 53 while Badoni made a run-a-ball 66. But once Kishan fell, the chase unravelled quickly. Three wickets fell with the score on 201 with Peter getting among the wickets and despite late resistance from Manav Suthar and Krishna (23 each), the hosts finished well short.

Brief scores:South Africa A 325/6 in 50 overs (Lhuan-dre Pretorius 123, Rivaldo Moonsamy 107; Harshit Rana 2-47) beat India A 252 in 49.1 overs (Ayush Badoni 66; Ishan Kishan 53; Nqabayomzi Peter 4-48) by 73 runs