India C vs India A, Duleep Trophy 2024. (Source – BCCI Domestic)
Day 2 of the ongoing Duleep Trophy 2024 fixture between India A and India C saw the Mayank Agarwal-led side extend their lead in the game even further. Day 1 ended with India A having a score of 224/7, with Shashwat Rawat and Avesh Khan at the crease.
As the day began, the overnight centurion Rawat was the first wicket to fall, adding just two more runs to his overnight tally. The southpaw scored a 250-ball 124, lacing his innings with 15 boundaries. Though India C bowlers tried hard to wrap up the tail, Khan and Prasidh Krishna were determined to stay at the crease for the longest time. Both the batters put on a crucial 42-run stand and made sure their side inched closer to the 300-run mark.
Vijaykumar Vyshak’s brilliant delivery brought an end to Krishna’s 34-run knock. Meanwhile, Gaurav Yadav hammered the final nail in the coffin as he got the wicket of Aaqib Khan. Avesh, on the other hand, brought up his half-century, lacing his innings with five boundaries and four sixes.
For India C, Vyshak was the wrecker-in-chief as he claimed four wickets while Anshul Kamboj and Yadav finished with three and two wickets, respectively.
India C finished Day 2 on a positive note
As Ruturaj Gaikwad & Co. came in to bat, they got off to a subpar start as openers Gaikwad and Sai Sudharsan departed for 17 each. Furthermore, Rajat Patidar, at the no.3, was dismissed for a first-ball duck, adding to India C’s woes. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who was coming off a century in the previous game, was dismissed for an 11-ball five. The early collapse of the top order put India C in deep trouble.
From there, Baba Indrajith and Abishek Porel took it upon themselves to get their side back in the game and built a crucial 86-run partnership. However, Indrajith had to walk back as retired hurt for 34. Manav Suthar then lost his wicket in no time and added just two runs to the tally. Meanwhile, Porel went on to score a sublime fifty and finished his innings at a score of 82.
Pulkit Narang gave a late flourish to the day with his composed 93-ball 35. He will continue batting on Day 3 along with Vyshak to reduce the deficit. India C ended Day 2 on 216/7 and trail by 81 runs. For India A, Aaqib Khan performed brilliantly with the ball, picking three crucial wickets.