Axar Patel’s rescue act (86, 118b, 6×4, 6×6), which included an 84-run ninth-wicket partnership with Arshdeep Singh, prevented India-D’s Duleep Trophy fixture in opposition to India-C from turning right into a one-sided affair right here on Thursday (September 5, 2024).
Axar sparked the competition to life within the second session, pulling the gang again which was in any other case falling right into a post-lunch snooze, with two sixes and a boundary off Manav Suthar. He was indiscriminate in opposition to the second spinner, Hrithik Shokeen, too, heaving him for sixes over lengthy on and lengthy off off successive deliveries.
Vyshak strikes
However the rearguard collapsed with the return of V. Vyshak, who compelled Arshdeep into selecting backward level with a bouncer. Axar miscued his slog sweep off Shokeen to deep-midwicket, bringing India-D’s innings to an finish at 164.
Abishek Porel and B. Indrajith mixed for an unbeaten 58-run fifth-wicket alliance to steer India-C to 91 for 4 at stumps, chopping the crew’s deficit to only 73. However the twin strikes from Harshit Rana and Axar ensured their crew was nonetheless within the contest, given its batting implosion earlier within the day.
Cornered
Requested to bat below overcast circumstances, Shreyas Iyer’s aspect was cornered after 5 of its batters returned inside the primary 11 overs.
Atharva Taide was rushed right into a hook and holed out at nice leg within the first over. But Vyshak opted in opposition to a short-ball ploy, the confirmed nemesis of the talismanic Shreyas, and squared up the India-D skipper with lateral motion, getting him to edge to the wicketkeeper.
Devdutt Padikkal lasted 4 deliveries, driving Vyshak straight to covers. Ricky Bhui was the subsequent to perish in opposition to the short-pitched supply, top-edging an tried pull in opposition to Himanshu.
At 34 4 5, Axar and Ok.S. Bharat have been compelled to drop anchor. But it surely proved solely a momentary halt within the slide when Suthar induced Bharat’s outdoors edge that was pouched at first slip.
India-D plunged additional into disarray at 76 for seven when Saransh Jain was run out after a combination up with Axar. The all-rounder, nevertheless, stood vindicated together with his match-saving heroics thereafter.
The scores: India-D — 1st innings: Atharva Taide c Vyshak b Kamboj 4, Yash Dubey c Porel b Kamboj 10, Shreyas Iyer c Porel b Vyshak 9, Devdutt Padikkal c Ruturaj b Vyshak 0, Ricky Bhui c Kamboj b Himanshu 4, Ok.S. Bharat c Indrajith b Suthar 13, Axar Patel c Suthar b Shokeen 86, Saransh Jain (run out) 13, Harshit Rana c Patidar b Himanshu 0, Arshdeep Singh c Suthar b Vyshak 13, Aditya Thakare (not out) 0; Extras (b-10, w-1, nb-1): 12; Whole (in 48.3 overs): 164.
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-23, 3-23, 4-23, 5-34, 6-48, 7-76, 8-76, 9-160.
India-C bowling: Kamboj 12-0-47-2, Vyshak 12-3-19-3, Himanshu 9-2-22-2, Suthar 7-2-34-1, Shokeen 8.3-1-32-1.
India-C — 1st innings: Ruturaj Gaikwad c Bharat b Rana 5, Sai Sudharsan c Taide b Rana 7, Aryan Juyal c & b Axar 12, Rajat Patidar b Axar 13, B. Indrajith (batting) 15, Abishek Porel (batting) 32; Extras (b-5, lb-1, nb-1): 7; Whole (for 4 wkts. in 33 overs): 91.
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-14, 3-40, 4-43.
India-D bowling: Rana 7-5-13-2, Arshdeep 8-1-24-0, Thakare 7-1-18-0, Axar 6-1-16-2, Saransh 5-1-14-0.
Toss: India-C.
Printed – September 05, 2024 09:57 pm IST
