India Red v India Blue, Duleep Trophy 2017-18 Final, Day 3, Review: Reds in command despite second innings collapse

It was a stunning turnaround of things from the India Blue on the third day of the finals of the Duleep Trophy. They managed to break the code of the strong India Red lineup in the second innings. However, their efforts seem a little too less in the broader picture with India Red’s lead escalating close to 400. By the end of the second day’s play, India Blue were struggling at 181/5 on the board, trailing by 302 runs.

Earlier in the match, India Red had piled up a mammoth 483 on the board riding on tons from Prithwi Shaw and Dinesh Karthik. The day 3 resumed for the blues on 181/5 with opener Abhimanyu Easwaran looking firm on 87 and Unadkat showing resistance with his 27. Both batsmen continued to rack up runs for the team as the Reds leaked runs in the first hour of play.

Easwaran, the Bengal opener, notched up a well deserved century in the process. He added 140 runs for the sixth wicket with Unadkat. Unadkat, too, completed his fifty in the process. The partnership was eventually broken when Washington Sundar sent Easwaran packing for 127 that came off 171 balls with 15 fours.

Gohil, Sundar bag five-fors

Unadkat, sensing the urgency, hit a few fours before perishing on 83 that came off 90 balls with 7 fours and 4 maximums. The tail could not add much as Gohil and Sundar ran through the tail. India Blue finished their first innings with 299 on the board. Gohil and Sundar bagged 5 wickets each in the innings as India Red secured a crucial 184 run first innings lead.

In walked Prithwi Shaw and Akhil Herwadkar to open the innings for the Reds in the second innings. Herwadkar’s poor run in the match continued as Akshay Wakhare dismissed him on 8. Ishank Jaggi (3) and Dinesh Karthik (9) fell cheaply too. Meanwhile, Shaw was unlucky to be run out on 31 by Ishan Kishan.

Sundar, Indrajith hold the fort

The Tamil Nadu duo of Baba Indrajith and Washington Sundar then steadied the sinking innings that was reeling at 58/4. The duo added 77 runs for the fifth wicket as Indrajith scored a fighting 59 off 116 deliveries. Jaydev Unadkat went past his defense to break the partnership.

Suryakumar Yadav scored a quick 22 off 18 balls before becoming Bhargav Bhatt’s scalp in the innings. Gohil (3) headed back to the pavilion cheaply with Bhatt accounting for his dismissal. By the end of the day’s play, the India Red could manage 187/7 with Sundar still at the crease batting on an unbeaten 42 off 133 balls.

Brief Scores:

India Red 483/10 in 127.2 overs (Shaw 154, Karthik 111, Bhatt 4/154, Wakhare 3/95)

India Blue 299/10 in 67 overs (Easwaran 127, Unadkat 83, Sundar 5/94, Gohil 5/121)

India Red 187/7 in 62 overs (Indrajith 62, Sundar 42*, Bhatt 3/75, Wakhare 2/53)