India C rode on a magnificent century from Ishan Kishan (111 off 126 deliveries) to end Day 1 at 357 for 5 at stumps, in the second round of the Duleep Trophy against India B, at the Rural Development Trust Stadium B in Anantapur.

Besides Kishan’s century, Baba Indrajith continued his glorious for, striking 78 to help India C comfortably get past the 300-run mark. The two batters stitched an 189-run partnership for the third wicket. However, towards the end of the day’s play, Mukesh Kumar’s 3 for 76 helped India B to peg back the batting side.

Put in to bat by India B, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad hit a boundary in the first ball of the game off Mukesh Kumar. However, Gaikwad retired hurt a ball later, after reportedly twisting his ankle while trying to take a single.

Rajat Patidar and Sai Sudharsan put on 92 runs together for the first wicket. But, both batters departed within an over of each other’s dismissal. Patidar was first bowled by Navdeep Saini on 40, after which Sudharsan was caught by Saini off Mukesh for 43.

Thereafter, Kishan and Indrajith joined forces and the duo piled on the misery on the bowling side with a dominant display of batting for over 40 overs. Kishan, expectedly, was the more aggressive of the two, having slammed 14 boundaries and three maximums.

Mukesh finally broke the partnership by castling Kishan before Indrajith followed six overs later, bowled by legspinner Rahul Chahar. Abhishek Porel was then trapped in front by Mukesh for his third wicket.

Meanwhile, Kishan’s dismissal also brought back Gaikwad after retiring hurt in the first over, and the right-hander was unbeaten on 42 off 44 deliveries along with Manav Suthar, who slammed two boundaries before the stumps were drawn for the day.

Brief Scores: India C 357/5 (Ishan Kishan 111, Baba Indrajith 78; Mukesh Kumar 3-76) vs India B

Mulani, Kotian half tons rescue India A to 288/8 against India D

Half centuries from the lower-order pair of Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian helped India A stage a remarkable comeback to reach 288 for 8 at stumps on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy round two clash against India D.

Reduced to 95 for 5 at one stage, India A desperately needed some solidity in the middle, after a disciplined India D bowling attack made a procession of the opposition’s top and middle order. Thereafter, Mulani and Kotian joined forces to launch a counterattack, and successfully managed to resurrect the innings with a crucial 91-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Mulani remained unbeaten on 88, while Tanush departed after scoring a crucial 53. Earlier, cameos from Riyan Parag (37) and Kumar Kushagra (28) also helped India D get over a reckless start that saw them losing the openers for mere 21 runs on the board.

Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Vidwath Kaverappa were the pick of the bowlers for the India D, claiming two wickets apiece. Saransh Jain and Saurabh Kumar also chipped in with a wicket each.

Brief Scores: India A 288/8 (Shams Mulani 88 not out, Tanush Kotian 53; Nitish Rana 2/49) vs India D