Yusuf Pathan struck a career-best 148 as India recovered to complete an 81-run win over New Zealand A at Chennai in a tri-series one-day cricket match on Sunday.
The one-day and Twenty20 international all-rounder helped his team recover from 66 for five to 305 for eight with a punishing 123-ball knock.
Suresh Raina then took four wickets as New Zealand were dismissed for 224, despite 51 from James Marshall and 42 from captain Peter Fulton.
Pathan, the younger half-brother of test bowler Irthan, struck nine fours and nine sixes to lift his team out of trouble.
His was the stand-out batting performance from the Indian order, with no other batsman reaching 40.
It is the second time India have beaten New Zealand A at the tournament, with the New Zealanders slumping to a five-wicket loss four days ago.
In their first game of the tri-series, New Zealand completed a 129-run over Australia A.
On Sunday, Fulton put his hosts into bat and capitalised with three early run outs.
But Pathan single-handedly revived his team’s fortunes and gave the visitors a difficult task to complete victory and reach the final.
A stand of 71 for the fourth wicket between Marshall and Fulton put the tourists at a strong 183 for three in the 34th over of their reply.
But spinners Raina (4/34) and Piyush Chawla (2/42) instigated a collapse which saw New Zealand dismissed 12 overs later for 224.
New Zealand now require a bonus point victory over Australia on Monday to guarantee a place in Friday’s final.
NZPA
