Deodhar Trophy, Final Review: India A prove too strong in the summit clash

A thoroughly dominant performance from India A enabled the team to lift the Deodhar Trophy at the Green Park in Kanpur. Having won the toss and elected to bat, India A put on a reasonable score of 286/7 against India B and defended it with conviction. Opener Faiz Fazal scored a brilliant 100 off 112 balls including 9 fours and 3 sixes and laid a strong foundation for his team.

Fazal’s opening partner Murali Vijay also batted well for his 69 off 91. His knock included 3 fours and 3 maximums. Kedar Jadhav’s 58 off 39 included 4 fours and 2 sixes that ensured a final push. In the previous game Chasing 273 in a must-win game against Gujarat, Kedar Jadhav had powered India A into the final with an unbeaten 61-ball 91-run knock and must be pleased with his performance in the tourney. Dhawal Kulkarni and Nathu Singh 2 wickets each for India B while Stuart Binny and Baba Aparajith contributed one each.

The target of 287 looked chaseable on a good batting track but consistent wickets proved to be detrimental. As a result, the innings never moved from first gear. The duo of S Aravind (2/43), Krishna Das (2/32) were instrumental in wobbling the new ball around. It was then followed up by an experienced spin bowling pair commanding those middle overs. All this while continuously pegging away at that wickets column.

India B batsmen tumbled early on, losing the skipper Unmukt Chand (8) and the dasher Mayank Agarwal (3) and they never looked like chasing from there on. Suryakumar Yadav (45) and Binny (60) hung in there a bit but the total was too big for them and quality bowling from the India A bowlers wrecked them down. All the quickies chipped in with wickets and Nadeem bagged three. Fazal was adjudged Man of the match for his scintillating innings.

Brief Scores:

India A: 286/7 in 50 overs (F Fazal 100; D Kulkarni 2/31)

India B: 199 in 40.4 overs (S Yadav 45; S Nadeem 3/36)

Man of the Match:  FY Fazal (India A)