Duleep Trophy Match 3, Day 2 Review: India Blue piles on the runs

Day 2 of the third Match of the 2016 edition of the Duleep Trophy saw India Blue rack up the runs to cross the 700-run mark for perhaps the first time in the history of the Duleep Trophy competition. While Cheteshwar Pujara went on to claim yet another ton, it was the irresistible Sheldon Jackson who impressed with some hard hitting that saw him complete a ton in the later hours of Day 2. Shreyas Gopal was the only shining light for the opposition as he picked up yet another five-wicket haul.

The day began with yet another century beckoning for Cheteshwar Pujara who had already amassed 63 on the first day’s play. With Suresh Raina also missing from action, Parthiv Patel and Murali Vijay were handed the reins of captaincy. This also did not help as Pujara piled on the runs.

The irony as far as Pujara was concerned was the fact that he was piling on the runs on a wicket that he was not very good at batting on. This rather indirectly pointed to the fact that those who had indeed given him flak for his performances in the West Indies were left eating their words. En route to his score of 166, Pujara was kept company by Abhimanyu Mithun and Dinesh Karthik.

Mithun, who had come out as a nightwatchman the previous day, batted for the better part of an hour as he smashed 32 runs before being dismissed by his fellow statesmen – Uthappa and Gopal. Dinesh Karthik smashed an impressive 48 before an outside edge found its way to Parthiv Patel.

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However, after Cheteshwar Pujara did indeed lose his wicket, it was time for yet another star to enter the spotlight. While Cheteshwar Pujara was dismissed for 166, the audience present at Greater Noida was treated to some impressive batting from Sheldon Jackson.

With Karn Sharma at the other end, it was clear that the need for urgent runs from both batsmen. Thus, it was clearly a case of going into overdrive mode for Jackson. Batting under the lights, Jackson smashed the India Green bowlers to different parts of the stadium as he brought on his half-century. Moreover, he also impressed with some big-hitting as well.

He was supported by Karn Sharma at the other end who also smashed the ball to different parts of the ground. As the score neared the 700-run mark, Sheldon Jackson brought up his ton, 105 blazing runs compiled in just 114 deliveries including 7 boundaries and 5 sixes. Shreyas Gopal’s fifth wicket was the last delivery of Day 2 as Sheldon Jackson was the last wicket to fall on the day.

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Brief Scores

India Blue: 707 all out (C Pujara 166; S Gopal 5/173)