Breezy knocks by Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Kaif helped India 'A' beat India Seniors by six wickets in the opening match of the NKP Salve Challenger Series tournament at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Monday.
Dravid (45 from 44 balls, 3 boundaries and a six) and Kaif (49 from 32 balls, 5 boundaries and a six) featured in an unbroken 82-run stand for the fifth wicket to steer India 'A' past the Seniors' huge total of 280 for 9, with just two balls to spare.
India 'A' added 78 runs in the last 10 overs -- and 47 off the last five -- to overhaul the target in a closely-contested encounter.
Dheeraj Jadhav and Dinesh Mongia also chipped in with vital half-centuries as India A put up a strong batting performance against the likes of Anil Kumble and Laxmipathy Balaji.
Jadhav, who was the top-scorer with 79, laid the foundation for the run chase with a 99-run partnership for the second wicket with Mongia, who scored 51.
Earlier, a powerful century from Yuvraj Singh helped India Seniors recover from a disastrous start and post a challenging 280 for 9.
Yuvraj, who scored 100 off 91 balls, including 15 boundaries, lifted the Seniors from early trouble following a triple strike by Zaheer Khan.
Electing to bat, India Seniors were reduced to 52 for 3 by the 11th over, with Zaheer picking three wickets for 22 runs in his first spell.
Yuvraj, dropped off a skier when on 12 by Dheeraj Jadhav off medium pacer R P Singh, put on 116 runs for the fourth wicket with Y Venugopal Rao, who scored 55 off 81 balls, inclusive of eight boundaries.
After the fall of the Andhra right-hander, Yuvraj stitched a partnership of 50 runs for the next wicket with Suresh Raina (26) to help the Seniors post a challenging total.
The Seniors got off a poor start as opener Mahendra Singh Dhoni was bowled by Zaheer off the second ball of the match. Captain Sourav Ganguly also did not last long as he was caught by Yusuf Pathan in the slips off Zaheer after scoring 10.
Zaheer then scalped his third wicket, that of Shikhar Dhawan (23), who was caught behind by wicketkeeper Dinesh Kaarthick.
For India Seniors, left-arm spinner Dinesh Mongia emerged the most successful bowler, claiming 4 for 48 in his 10 overs.
More from rediff