Photo: Hotstar

A late blitzkrieg from Shivam Dube and Axar Patel helped India A to a massive total against South Africa A and beat the visitors by 69 runs in the first Unofficial ODI at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.

Put into bat first, India A found themselves in the midst of a mini-collapse at 169/5 at the start of the 28th over having lost two quick wickets and all their specialist batsmen at the stage. But then in came Dube at No. 7 who kept the innings in check with a 37-run partnership with Krunal Pandya before the latter’s departure.

Then, along with Axar Patel, Dube began his blitz. The duo blazed an unbroken 121-run stand in just 67 balls, at a strike rate of 180.59, upping the run rate from 5.65 before their partnership started and ended at a daunting 6.95. As many as 71 runs were plundered in the last five overs as the two batsmen upped the ante.

India A scored 327/6 in 47 overs as a result in a match shortened after a wet outfield delayed the start. While Patel went berserk by scoring 60 off just 36 balls, Dube managed his highest List A score of 79* in just 60 balls at a strike rate of 131.67, aided with 3 fours and 6 sixes, which included successive ones off Junior Dala’s deliveries in the 45th over

Dube - a mainstay for Shivaji Park Lions in T20 Mumbai - reached his maiden One Day fifty in 46 deliveries in what was his 24^th One Day match.

That's a well compiled FIFTY for Shivam Dube 👏🇮🇳

India A 252/6 after 42 overs https://t.co/b2AgNFKEI3 #INDAvSAA pic.twitter.com/qVQ3yi5CoB

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) August 29, 2019

The all-rounder from Mumbai has had a strong run of form of late, particularly with his batting, highlighted by his recent Man of the Series efforts during India A’s tour of the Caribbean where they faced West Indies A.