India Blue were trailing by 167 runs with seven wickets in hand at Stumps on Day 2 in reply to India Red’s first innings total of 383 in Kanpur. Having found an able ally in Vijay Gohil (34* off 83), Baba Indrajith (200 off 280) carried India Red to a respectable score in the Duleep Trophy match. The pair were involved in a 178-run partnership for the last wicket until Manoj Tiwary claimed the middle-order bat to wrap-up the innings.
At the end of day’s play, Hanuma Vihari (86* off 163) had anchored India Blue to 216 for three with Deepak Hooda.
Earlier, Indrajith and Vijay resumed the India Red innings on 291 for nine and continued to add valuable runs to the innings. While the No 11 bat held up one end, the middle-order batsman gleaned runs off the opposition. They had added 92 runs to the overnight total until Indrajith’s resistance was ended by the India Blue all-rounder a little before the end of the first session.
Opening the innings for India Blue, Samit Gohil and Vihari took the side to Tea at nine without loss. The duo had taken the side to 47 when Karn Sharma accounted for the opener and 39 runs later, Tiwary was dismissed Basil Thampi.
Skipper Suresh Raina then took India Blue to Dinner at 92 for two with Vihari. The duo continued to milk runs off the opposition at a steady pace in the final session of the day. The left-handed senior campaigner brought up his half-century at a quick pace and the opener followed suit as they shaped the innings. However, Vijay struck to claim the captain and ended the flourishing stand for 73.
Hooda, who joined then Vihari helped see the session through in an unbroken 57-run partnership.
Scores:
End of Day 1 – India Red 1st inn 291/9 in 84 overs (B Indrajith 120*, V Gohil 22*, A Rajpoot 3/44)
End of Day 2 – India Red 1st inn 383/10 in 108.3 overs (B Indrajith 200, V Gohil 34*); India Blue 1st inn 216/3 in 61 overs (GH Vihari 86*, S Raina 52, D Hooda 23*, V Gohil 1/50) Trail by 167 runs.
