A sporting wicket spices things up. Like the one at the Rural Development Trust Stadium’s main ground. The second day of the Duleep Trophy match between India-A and India-C proved as interesting as the first. At the end of it, India-C was 216 for seven, replying to India-A’s 297.
If not for a fine innings from Abishek Porel (82, 113b, 9×4), India-C’s deficit would have been bigger. He played strokes all around the park until he stepped out to Shams Mulani and skied to mid-off.
It was his fifth-wicket stand with B. Indrajith that steadied the innings — from 41 for four. When their stand was worth 86, Indrajith, who was batting on 34 (61b, 5×4), got injured while going for a run and had to retire hurt.
It was a fine spell by 20-year-old seamer Aaqib Khan that derailed India-C. He took wickets with his first two balls. He had Ruturaj Gaikwad edging to the ’keeper with a ball that moved away and uprooted Rajat Patidar’s off-stump with one that darted in.
Earlier, India-A resumed the day at 224 for seven. Shashwat Rawat’s hopes of a bigger hundred were dashed by Vyshak Vijayakumar, who knocked out the off-stump with a fuller delivery that shaped away. The Karnataka seamer impressed, taking four for 51.
The eighth-wicket stand between Rawat (124, 250b, 15×4) and Avesh Khan (51 not out, 68b, 5×4, 4×6) raised 90, the highest of the innings. The pacer also put on 42 for the ninth wicket with Prasidh Krishna (34, 39b, 7×4). He enjoyed his stint with the bat, as he went on to make his second fifty in First Class cricket.
After reaching his fifty off 67 balls — with a six off Gaurav Yadav over long-on — Avesh spread his arms, and beamed widely at the dressing room. He had every reason to be proud of his knock that came at a difficult time for his team.
The scores: India-A — 1st innings: Pratham Singh c Sai Sudharsan b Kamboj 6, Mayank Agarwal c Kishan b Kamboj 6, Tilak Varma run out 5, Riyan Parag c Sai Sudharsan b Vyshak 2, Shashwat Rawat b Vyshak 124, Kumar Kushagra c Kishan b Vyshak 0, Shams Mulani c Patidar b Gaurav 44, Tanush Kotian c Indrajith b Kamboj 10, Avesh Khan (not out) 51, Prasidh Krishna b Vyshak 34, Aaqib Khan b Gaurav 0; Extras (b-4, lb-7, nb-2, w-2) 15; Total (in 90.5 overs): 297.
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-14, 3-17, 4-35, 5-36, 6-123, 7-154, 8-244, 9-286.
India-C bowling: Kamboj 17-3-49-3, Gaurav 17.5-7-57-2, Vyshak 21-3-51-4, Narang 22-0-65-0, Suthar 13-1-64-0.
India-C — 1st innings: Ruturaj Gaikwad c Kushagra b Aaqib 17, B. Sai Sudharsan c Kushagra b Aaqib 17, Rajat Patidar b Aaqib 0, Ishan Kishan b Avesh 5, B. Indrajith retd. hurt 34, Abishek Porel c Mayank b Mulani 82, Manav Suthar b Kotian 2, Pulkit Narang (batting) 35, Anshul Kamboj b Mulani 1, Vyshak Vijaykumar (batting) 14; Extras (b-4, nb-5) 9; Total (for seven wkts. in 64 overs): 216.
Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-29, 3-39, 4-41, 5-136, 6-165, 7-167.
India-A bowling: Prasidh 14-1-49-0, Avesh 12-1-52-1, Aaqib 13-1-43-3, Kotian 15-2-38-1, Mulani 10-1-30-2.
Published – September 21, 2024 12:12 am IST