Shams Mulani (88, 174b, 8×4, 3×6) led the charge for India A and produced a sustained performance against India D in their second round of the Duleep Trophy at the Rural Development Trust Stadium in Anantapur on Thursday.
He was supported by his main mate Tanush Kotian, and the pair put together 91 runs for the seventh wicket to take the team to 144-6. Khaliel Ahmed added to India D’s misery when he joined Mullaney in helping himself to three boundaries. The pair took India A to 288-8 at stumps.
Mulani put on a clinic, playing close to the body and punching with his back foot as he pocketed three boundaries through the point zone of Arshdeep Singh and Vidwath Kaverappa. He was shaken off the line when Arshdeep probed him with a bouncer, but when the left-arm seamer made a mistake and fell to leg, he hooked a superb shot over the leg fence.
File photo: Mulani was the standout performer for India A, remaining unbeaten with 88 runs from 174 balls, helping India A to a respectable score on day one. | ​​Photo courtesy: Emmanual Yogini/The Hindu
File photo: Mulani was the standout performer for India A, remaining unbeaten with 88 runs from 174 balls, helping India A to a respectable score on day one. | ​​Photo courtesy: Emmanual Yogini/The Hindu
India D’s favourable match-up in off-spinner Saransh Jain did not faze Mulani and he established bragging rights early with a 6-over mid-wicket. Mulani also went airily to Saurabh Kumar and bowled him a length ball over long-on to reach his 50 off 75 balls.
Kotyan also reserved his strike for the spinners, rushing through the covers to break the fence. He took advantage of his luck, slashing the outside off against Saurabh and Saransh, beating the slip fielders both times. But when his misdirected heave went to Saurabh’s mid-on, his partnership with his Mumbai teammate ended at nine, a ton short.
AS IT HAPPENED: Duleep Trophy, India A vs India D Highlights
India A’s top order in the morning session was submitted to the pacer’s inquiry outside the off-stump. Mayank Agarwal lasted just 14 deliveries and was the first to be bowled out at first slip after bouncing off the body.
His opening partner Pratham Singh looked keen to get through the early stages shoulder to shoulder, but his approach was ambushed by a Kaberappa bouncer and he holed out at fine leg.
Riyan Parag got India A out of their early doldrums with 37 runs from 29 balls. His charge started against Kaveerappa, who took a six off mid-off. He took 12 runs from Ashdeep’s over, which he crossed for a boundary through point and cover, but it was too much when Parag struggled against Ashdeep and barely made it to first slip.
File photo: Parag got India A out of their early doldrums with 37 runs from 29 balls but was eventually caught at first slip by Arshideep. | Photo courtesy: PTI
File photo: Parag got India A out of their early doldrums with 37 runs from 29 balls but was eventually caught at first slip by Arshideep. | Photo courtesy: PTI
Tilak Varma’s meticulous watch was wasted when he was trapped inside his crease on a full delivery from Saransh and edged it to Shreyas Iyer at slip. Harshit Rana took another catch on the slip cordon, forcing Shashwat Rawat to slash outside off, and India A stared down the barrel at 93-5.
Kumar Kushagra looked like he had cracked the code when he put together a 51-run sixth-wicket partnership, but even he could not resist the urge to pounce on Ashdeep’s full-length delivery and was caught off Gully.
