Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh), Sep 13: After loss of 8 wickets on the first day, 13 wickets tumbled on Day 2 of the Duleep Trophy match between India A and India D on Friday, here
India A resumed their first innings at 288/8 on Day 2, but they were bundled out for 290 in 84.3 overs, adding just two more runs to their overnight score.
Maharashtra all-rounders Shams Mulani (89) and Tanush Kotian (53) were the major contributors after loss of early wickets.
Among the India D bowlers, pacer Harshit Rana (4/51) was the wrecker-in-chief.
However, in conditions not completely averse to batting, India D too did not impress with their willow efforts. They were all out for a paltry 183 in just 52.1 overs.
Devdutt Padikkal impressed with a fighting 92. But he missed out a fine opportunity to convert that to a three-digit score. The only other noticeable contributions came from Ricky Bhui (23) and Harshit Rana (31).
While seven India D batters could not reach double digit score, two of them failed to open their account. India A pacers dominated the proceedings on helpful conditions.
India A bowlers struck at regular intervals and all the five of them had scalps against their names on the scoreboard. But left-arm fast Khaleel Ahmed (3/39) and right-arm pacer Aaquib Khan (3/41) were more lethal on the day.
With a first innings lead of 107 runs to their advantage, India A openers Mayank Agarwal (56) and Pratham Singh (59 not out) shared crucial 115 runs partnership for the first wicket. Once Mayank was dismissed after 115.1 overs, umpires announced stumps for Day 2. Mayank lost his wicket to part-timer Shreyas Iyer, who got him caught and bowled.
India A will resume Day 3 with 222 runs lead. Their opener Pratham Singh was looking nicely poised for a big score. If they can add another 100-150 runs on the third day, then the match in all probability would be under their control.
Second Match:
In the other Duleep Trophy match in the same city, batsmen dominated bowlers. Put into bat first, India C posted a mammoth 525 first innings score on board against India B.
Building on Ishan Kishan's 111 and Baba Indrajith's 78 on Thursday, India C amassed 525 runs in their first innings, with useful contributions from late middle order batters Manav Suthar (82) and Ansul Kamboj (38).
India B bowlers in their 124.1 overs gave away 23 extras, which did not help their cause as well.
Leg spinner Rahul Chahar (4/73) and right-arm new ball pacer Mukesh Kumar (4/126) shared 8 India C wickets amongst them.
In reply, India B were 124 for no loss in 36 overs at stumps on the second day, with skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran's unbeaten 51 in 91 deliveries.
Easwaran was ably supported by his opening partner and keeper-batsman Narayan Jagadeesan, who dominated bowlers with a 67 not out in 126 deliveries. He hit 8 boundaries in his impressive knock.
India C skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad used five bowlers with a desperation to break the opening partnership, but none of them could fetch a wicket.
It is worth mentioning that this year, Duleep Trophy is being played in a new format with four teams India A, B, C and D locking horns. Earlier the tournament was played in the zonal basis.
Brief Scores at Stumps Day 1 :
First Match:
India A 290 (84.3 overs) & 115/1 (28.1 overs)
India D 183 (52.1 overs).
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Second Match:
India C 525/10 (124.1 overs),
India B 124/0 (36 overs).
Matches to Continue.
