AGARWAL, PRATAM GIVE INDIA ‘A’ EDGE
DULEEP TROPHY
ANANTAPUR: Half-centuries by skipper Mayank Agarwal and Pratam Singh helped India A reach 115 for one in its second innings and extend its hold over India D after second day’s play of the Duleep Trophy here on Friday.
India A, which made 290 in its first innings, earlier bowled out its opponent for 183 despite India batter Devdutt Padikkal’s valiant 92 to gain a lead of 107 runs.
Now, India A has an advantage of 222 runs, with Agarwal (56, 87b, 8x4) and Pratham (59 batting, 82b, 6x4) leading the run glut in the second innings.
However, Agarwal, who is eager to chart his way back into selectorial reckoning, will be kicking himself for falling on the last ball of the day to part-time spinner Shreyas Iyer, spooning a simple return catch. But till that point, Agarwal and Pratam played fluently and executed some fluent drives and cuts as the run-rate never came under four.
However, that’s just one part of India A’s story of domination on the day as earlier pacers Khaleel Ahmed and Aaqib Khan bagged three wickets apiece to rattle the India D line-up.
Only one of its batters defied the constant challenge of judgement – Devdutt who stroked his way to a 124-ball 92 with 15 hits to the ropes.
The Karnataka left-hander who made his Test debut earlier this year against England was particularly harsh on any offering on his pads or away from the offstump.
A century was there for his taking, but the 24-year-old fell just eight runs shy as his attempt to play a shot on the up off state-mate Prasidh Krishna ended up in a simple catch to stumper Kumar Kushagra.
BRIEF SCORES: India A 290 & 115/1 in 28.1 overs (M Agarwal 56, P Singh 59 batting) vs India D 183 in 52.1 overs (D Padikkal 92, K Ahmed 3/39, A Khan 3/41)
STRONG RIPOSTE BY EASWARAN, JAGADEESAN
India B openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Narayan Jagadeesan made a confident start with an unbroken partnership of 124 after India C posted a mammoth first-innings total of 525.
At stumps on the second day of the match, Easwaran and Jagadeesan were batting on 51 and 67 respectively, having crossed the team 50 within 15 overs.
Still faced with a deficit of 401 runs, the duo of Easwaran and Jagadeesan will look to carry on in the same vein on the third morning, hoping to get as close as possible to the huge total put up by their opponent. Leading the India B side, seasoned Bengal batter Easwaran made his runs in 91 balls with the help of four fours and a six, while wicketkeeper Jagadeesan faced 126 deliveries and struck eight boundaries during his stay in the middle.
BRIEF SCORES: India C 525 in 124.1 overs (I Kishan 111, M Suthar 82, B Indrajith 78, R Gaikwad 58, Sai Sudharsan 43, R Patidar 40, R Chahar 4/73, M Kumar 4/126) vs India B 124 for no loss in 36 overs (A Easwaran 51 batting, N Jagadeesan 67 batting)