Deodhar Trophy 2018-19: Final, India B vs India C, Review- Twin centuries from Rahane and Ishan outshine the efforts of Shreyas Iyer

The final of the Deodhar Trophy 2018-19 at Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi was a high-scoring and an intense one. However, it was India ‘C’ who emerged to be the winners in the tournament after a clinical show against India ‘B’. Twin centuries from skipper Ajinkya Rahane and wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan had put the team right on the top. Nevertheless, the opposition skipper Shreyas Iyer wasn’t someone who would give up easily.

He was the lone warrior for his team throughout. He got his team as close as possible to the winning line and kept the asking rate well under control. But, his dismissal, at the wrong time ensured that India ‘C’ won the big final quite comfortably by 29 runs to clinch the title. This is the only game that the B team lost in the tournament after some terrific shows in the last two matches and thus failed to defend the title.

Ajinkya Rahane plays a scintillating knock

Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to bat first. However, he had a different batting partner this time around. He walked out into the middle along with Ishan Kishan who together added 210 runs for the opening wicket in just 30.3 overs. Kishan, after getting off to a brilliant 114 got out off the bowling of Jayadev Unadkat.

Shubman got out after piling on 26 runs and Suresh Raina’s horrific tournament continued. He walked back to the pavilion after scoring just one run. Suryakumar Yadav provided the final impetus to the team as he got 39 off just 18 balls. Rahane was unbeaten with 144 off 156 as the C team put up 352/7 after 50 overs.

Shreyas Iyer’s efforts go in vain

In the chase, India B lost their crucial batsman Mayank Agarwal for just 14 runs. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer added 116 runs for the third wicket in quick time before the former got out for 60 runs. Hanuma Vihari, who has carried India B’s middle order on his shoulders suffered a rare failure. With Manoj Tiwary also dismissed cheaply, the onus was on Iyer completely.

He was terrific as he, with little support from the other batsmen, got his team so close that one could never imagine of. Almost single-handedly, he carted the bowlers all around the park to bring up a brilliant century. Unfortunately, after he scored 148 off just 114 balls, he was dismissed by Rahul Chahar when his team was only 44 runs shy of the target. Although they had enough overs left after this wicket, there weren’t any capable batsmen to do the job. They were bundled out for 323 runs and lost the match by 29 runs.

Brief Scores:

India C: 352/7 in 50 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 144*, Ishan Kishan 114, Jayadev Unadkat 3/52)

India B: 323/10 in 46.1 overs (Shreyas Iyer 148, Ruturaj Gaikwad 60, Pappu Roy 3/75)

Result: India C won by 29 runs.

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