Duleep Trophy 2024, India A vs India B, Day 3 Review: Advantage India B courtesy Sarfaraz and Pant

Day 3 of the ongoing first match of the Duleep Trophy 2024 between India A and India B at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru saw India B having a fairly good day with the bat as they increased their lead. 

India A started the day with their first innings score standing at 134/2, with overnight batters Riyan Parag and KL Rahul at the crease. The Abhimanyu Easwaran-led started their day on a high not getting the big wicket of Parag at the score of 30. Following that, Dhruv Jurel (2) and Rahul (37) also found them walking back to the dressing room in no time.

Shivam Dube and Tanush Kotian stitched a 30-run partnership but couldn't extend their stand as Dube gave his wicket at the hands of Mukesh Kumar at the score of 20 runs. Soon Kotian followed suit, walking back after adding 32 runs to the team's tally. 

Thereon, the tail of India A couldn't sustain for long enough and was wrapped in quick succession, with their innings finishing at 231, ninety runs behind their opponents tally. For India B, Mukesh Kumar and Navdeep Saini were the best performers with the ball, as they bagged three wickets each, while Sai Kishore picking two wickets. 

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India B extend their lead 

The Shubman Gill-led side had a promising start as they dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Easwaran early. Both the openers were back in the pavilion under the first six overs. The centurion of the first innings, Musheer Khan, had a rather contrasting outing as he could last just six balls without adding a run.

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Meanwhile, his brother Sarfaraz played a quickfire knock of 46 runs in 36 deliveries. Sarfaraz stitched an important partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who himself smashed a sublime 61 off just 47. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was trying to build the innings, was the last wicket to fall of the day as the side's score stood at 150/6, with a lead of 240 runs. With four more wickets the side will be looking to extend their lead and give a daunting target for the final day.