India Red v India Blue, Duleep Trophy 2017-18 Final, Day 2, Review: Sundar's all-round show put India Red in command

After magnificent tons from Prithwi Shaw and Dinesh Karthik lit the day one play of the Duleep Trophy final, it was time for another youngster to dictate terms on the second day. India Red were set a firm base riding on tons from Shaw and Karthik. They were given the final impetus from young Washington Sundar on day two. Sundar hit 88 in the innings that helped the Reds post a total in the proximity of 500.

En route his knock, he became the second youngest player to hit a fifty in Duleep Trophy final. Resuming the day on the score of 317/5, Ishank Jaggi and Sundar strolled out in the middle. Both batsmen looked comfortable at the crease and added 37 runs for the sixth wicket before Pankaj Singh sent Jaggi packing on 30. Vijay Gohil then joined Sundar at the crease.

Gohil contributed with 29 as Sundar eased past his fifty. Akshay Wakhare accounted for the wickets of both batsmen. Sundar scored 88 off 118 deliveries with 6 fours and 5 sixes to his name. The finesse with which he cleared the ropes was something that earned him a lot of praise.

Sundar’s timely 88 saw India Red finish with 483 in the first innings. Ishant Sharma, the premier India Blue bowler, went wicketless in the innings. Bhargav Bhatt was the pick of the bowlers for them with 4/154 to his name, while Wakhare scalped 3/95.

India Blue disappoint with the bat as well

The star studded batting lineup of India Blue disappointed in their response. Srikar Bharat was the first to be dismissed by Vijay Gohil on 8. In walked Manoj Tiwary to accompany his Bengal teammate Abhimanyu Easwaran. Both batsmen looked to steady the ship with Tiwary hitting the occasional odd boundaries. Gohil was brought back into the attack by the India Red skipper and the move seemed to work well.

Tiwary was dismissed on 25 (47) by Gohil. Skipper Suresh Raina (1) did not trouble the scorers much and was stumped by his opposition number Dinesh Karthik off the bowling of Washington Sundar. Sundar then sent Ishan Kishan packing for a duck by trapping him lbw. Deepak Hooda (12) became Gohil’s third scalp of the day. Meanwhile, opener Easwaran watched the proceedings from the other end.

He completed his fifty and was pretty much the lone ranger for his side. Jaydev Unadkat showed resistance with him towards the fag end of the day. By the end of the day two play, India Blue stammered at 181/5 in 45 overs. Easwaran will resume on 87 on day 3 and Unadkat will continue his batting on 27.

Brief Scores:

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

India Blue 181/5 in 45 overs (Easwaran 87*, Unadkat 27*, Gohil 3/65, Sundar 2/55)