Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of Day 3 of the Irani Cup.
Another day went the visitors’ way as the Rest of India extended its lead to 275 after the end of the day’s play. Both first innings centurions - Jaiswal and Easwaran carry their bats and will come again tomorrow to haunt MP’s bowling attack.
Dipak: With Yashavi Jaiswal and Abhimanyu Easwaran, the tormentors of MP in the first innings going strong once again
Jaiswal sweeps Saransh Jain for a four to get to his attacking fifty! There is no stopping for the young man as he slashes the bowler for the second boundary of the penultimate over of the day.
Dipak: Jaiswal brings up his 50 off just 46 balls with a nice paddle sweep to fine leg boundary off Saransh Jain. Seven fours and a six in this knock so far.
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Easwaran looks much more comfortable as he steps out to hit Saransh Jain for a SIX clearing the fence over deep mid-wicket.
Abhimanyu Easwaran hits Kartikeya for back-to-back boundaries to take RoI past the 50-run mark and stitch a 56-run stand for the second wicket.
Dipak: Yashasvi Jaiswal has picked off from where he left off in the first innings. He hit Avesh for a hat-trick of boundaries, two cover drives and an on-drive. He then stepped down to hit Ankit Kushwah straight down the ground for a six and then lofted him again for a four over mid-on. The 21-year-old is batting on 38 off just 28 balls.
Ankit Kushwah jags one in sharply to hit Jaiswal low on the back-pad. Loud appeal but the umpire denies an lbw. In the slot and Yashasvi charges down next ball to smack a thunderous SIX down the ground. Ankit angles one into the middle stump and Jaiswal lifts another ball over short mid-on and mid-on for FOUR.
Avesh overpitches twices and Jaiswal crunches the ball through cover for back-to-back FOURs. Make that three in a row! Avesh sends another one in full and Jaiswal plays a superb on-drive for FOUR.
Kartikeya to Mayank, OUT! That’s plumb!
Disappointment for Mayank Agarwal. is out for duck trapped leg-before by Kartikeya. Tried to play on the backfoot but the ball scooted down and hit just above his feet.
Mayank Agarwal and Abhimanyu Easwaran open for the Rest of India. 18 overs remaining in the day and MP have started with left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya. Mayank Agarwal missed out in the first innings and will look to make up for it in the 2nd with all the four national selectors in attendance.
Pulkit to Avesh, OUT! 4 wickets for Pulkit.
Dipak: It is all over for MP, bowled out for 294. Narang gets his fouth wicket. Avesh Khan is caught in the deep. Rest of India has a 190-run lead.
Saurabh to Kartikeya, OUT!
Dipak: Saurabh Kumar finally gets a wicket. Kumar Kartikeya goes for a wild slog sweep and misses it completely.
Kumar Kartikeya Singh 9(15) b Saurabh Kumar
Dipak: A nice pull from Ankit Kushwah against Pulkit Narang to the midwicket fence ensures MP avoids the follow-on.
Ankit steps out and smacks Saurabh down the ground for a big SIX.
Pulkit to Saransh, OUT!
Dipak: Pulkit Narang gets his third wicket. Saransh Jain tries to slog sweep and top-edges it. A good catch from Saini running in from fine leg. Saransh falls on 66
Saransh Jain is joined by Ankit Kushwah after the break. Saurabh Kumar continues. Kushwah opens his account with a FOUR through cover.
Third session starts
Narang to Anubhav, OUT!
Dipak: Just as I was typing that MP has won the second session on the moving day, Narang strikes at the stroke of Tea. 87 runs in 27 overs. Runs have come more easily in this session with Saransh Jain getting to his 50. He took his chances and it paid off. The new ball has helped with Yash Dubey and Jain managing to find a few boundaries before Dubey was bowled by Pulkit Narang for a well-made 109. Rest of India would rue the dropped chances. On a pitch where it is hard for bowlers to create chances, three easy catches going down is going to hurt the bowling side.
But Anubhav Agarwal was shocked by the decision to give him caught behind. MP 261/7. 24 more runs are needed to avoid follow-on. However, I will be surprised if Mayank Agarwal will enforce it even if he has a chance to do considering his team has bowled 103 overs already
Anubhav Agarwal 7(23) ct Upendra Yadav b Pulkit Narang
Anubhav has hung around neatly behind Saransh who continues to needle the gaps for quick runs. Mayank Agarwal walks back into the field after a brief break.
Pulkit Narang to Yash Dubey, OUT!
Dipak: Finally Pulkit Narang takes matters into his own hands and bowls Yash Dubey with a beauty
That’s the dream of every off-spinner. Pitching outside off ✅, getting the batter to drive ✅and then bowling him through the gate, hitting top of off-stump ✅.
Yash Dubey has done his bit. A superb knock. From 15-3, he has taken his side to 245/6. Played beautifully. Nothing flashy. On day two, he hit 11 boundaries to finish the day on 54. Today it has been much tougher but he has held fort at one end and accumulated the runs patiently.
Yash Dubey 109(258) b Pulkit Narang
50 for Saransh Jain!
Dipak: Now Saransh Jain gets to his 50, edging Saini to the third man fence. Lucky innings but vital nonetheless. He has added 84 runs for the sixth wicket with Yash Dubey and got MP close to avoiding the follow on
Saini overpitches and Yash Dubey plays another sumptuous cover drive for FOUR.
100 for Yash Dubey! Edged and Dropped at first-slip. What a way get to his first ton of the season!
Dipak: Yash Dubey gets to his 100, in the luckiest way possible. He edges Saini to the first slip fielder (looks like it was Mayank Agarwal) who drops it diving to his left. Another chance goes begging for Rest of India. Rest of India has now dropped three catches in the last hour or so.
New ball taken. Dubey leans into a superb cover drive for FOUR off Mukesh Kumar and moves to 98.
Saransh dances down the track and wallops Pulkit over long-on for a huge SIX, bring up the 50-run stand between him and Dubey. Saransh flicks the ball to square-leg for a single and brings up 200 for Madhya Pradesh.
Saurabh Kumar continues with the old ball and Saransh leans into a drive through cover for three runs. Perhaps, it’s time to summon the new ball.
Dipak: Agony for Pulkit Narang. The second catch dropped off his bowling in as many overs. this time Saransh Jain steps down and tries to go over mid-off where Yash Dhull makes a mess of an easy chance. The Delhi player was caught in two minds whether to jump or not and it pops of his hands. looks like he misjudged how high it was
Yash Dubey and Saransh Jain return to the crease for Madhya Pradesh.
Dipak: A hard-fought session for both sides. The rest of India has managed to take two wickets and hasn’t allowed MP to score runs easily. 62/2 in 33 overs.
For the Rest of India, the 2nd new ball is available in four overs and we expect Saini and Mukesh Kumar to come back fresh from the break and have a go with the new cherry to wrap up this innings quickly.
Off-spinner Pulkit Narang has looked the more effective of the two spinners on a pitch where there is still not a lot of help for them. While Saurabh Kumar has kept it tight, he has not troubled the batters either
Yash Dubey has looked solid batting on 84. But just off the penultimate ball of the session, Dubey got a life when he edged off-spinner Pulkit Narang but keeper Upendra Yadav dropped it. Sharp chance but the keeper should have held on to it. MP trailing by 310 runs and need 111 to avoid the follow-on
Saransh Jain steps out to Saurabh and pumps the ball down the ground for FOUR.
Mukesh to Solanki, OUT!
Dipak: Mukesh Kumar strikes. has bowled a long spell with an one-over break in between to change ends. it has worked. removes Aman Solanki going for a big drive. A good low catch by B. Indrajith at first slip. 145/5.
Aman Singh Solanki 7(22) ct B Indrajith b Mukesh Kumar
Dipak: Drinks taken on day 3. MP has added 29 runs in 13 overs. Lost the one wicket of Harsh Gawli. Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar have not given away anything easily. Tight bowling and sturdy defense. There is variable bounce on the pitch with keeper Upendra Yadav having a tough time collecting balls that scoot low.
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Saini to Gawali, OUT!
Dipak: It is that man Navdeep Saini who gives the breakthrough for Rest of India. A beautiful delivery that jagged back in sharply to beat Harsh Gawli’s defence and uproot his off-stump. MP 129/4
Harsh Gawali 54(149) b Navdeep Saini
Runs haven’t come easy this morning as Saini and Mukesh tighten their lines around the stumps. Gawali and Dubey, however, have looked rock-solid while shielding the wickets. Saini overpitches and Gawali drives for FOUR through cover. Mayank Agarwal gives chase but cannot prevent the boundary as he slides nears the rope and hurts himself. He limps off the field with some assistance.
FIFTY for Gawali.
Dipak: Harsh Gawli guides Mukesh Kumar to third man for a brace and brings up his half-century. Gawli and Yash Dubey’s half-centuries have helped MP stay in the match so far. A long road ahead still..
100-run partnership between Gawali and Dubey. Saini attempts to go wide off the crease and slide the ball in. Dubey imposes himself over the ball with a sturdy defence.
Saini starts off with a fine line of attack. Not a lot of movement on offer with the older ball now. Gawali and Dubey could cash in if they see off this initial spell from the bowlers.
Harsh Gawali and Yash Dubey return to the crease. Navdeep Saini into the attack.
Irani Cup: MP vs Rest of India Day 2 recap
After a lacklustre performance with the ball on the opening day, the Madhya Pradesh bowlers came back strongly to restrict Rest of India to 484 in the first innings of the Irani Cup here at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium on Thursday.
Resuming the second day at 381 for three, MP bowlers used the early morning conditions well in the first session with the second new ball and took the last seven wickets for just 102 runs.
In reply, MP started poorly, losing three wickets with just 15 on board as pacer Navdeep Saini (10-4-15-2) bowled a fiery spell with pace and accuracy, picking up two wickets.
However, Yash Dubey (53 n.o.) and Harsh Gawli (47 n.o.) fought back with an unbroken 97-run stand for the fourth wicket as MP finished the day on 112 for three, trailing by 372 runs.
Earlier, pacer Ankit Kushwah struck in the third over of the day by removing nightwatchman Saurabh Kumar, who dragged a wide delivery onto his stumps.
Avesh Khan (4/74), the best bowler on the first day for MP, continued to impress, bowling a nagging line on off-stump, beating the batter on both edges of the bat without luck.
B. Indrajith got squared up a few times and was eventually caught behind when medium-pacer Anubhav Agarwal got one to move away just a bit.
At the other end, Yash Dhull (55) looked positive and kept finding the boundaries with flicks and drives. He whipped left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya off the backfoot to get to his half-century in style.
Just before the first session ended, MP got two quick wickets to leave Rest of India at 467 for seven.
Immediately after the break, Kartikeya trapped Yash Dhull leg-before before Avesh cleaned up the tail, taking the last two wickets off successive deliveries.
MP did a commendable job restricting Rest of India to less than 500 after conceding 381 on day one, but still faces an uphill battle to stay alive in this match.
- S Dipak Ragav
Scoreboard:
Playing XIs:
Rest of India: Mayank Agarwal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yash Dhull, Baba Indrajith, Upendra Yadav, Atit Sheth, Saurabh Kumar, Pulkit Narang, Navdeep Saini, Mukesh Kumar.
Madhya Pradesh: Himanshu Mantri, Yash Dubey, Shubham Sharma, Arham Aquil, Aman Singh Solanki, Harsh Gawali, Saransh Jain, Kumar Kartikeya Singh, Avesh Khan, Anubhav Agarwal, Ankit Singh Kushwah.
The squads:
Madhya Pradesh: Himanshu Mantri (c&wk), Yash Dubey, Harsh Gawli, Shubham Sharma, Akshat Raghuvanshi, Aman Solanki, Kumar Kartikeya, Saransh Jain, Avesh Khan, Ankit Kushwah, Anubhav Agarwal, Mihir Hirwani, Aryan Deshmukh, Arham Aqueel, Aryan Pandey
Rest of India: Mayank Agarwal (c), Sudip Kumar Gharami, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Harvik Desai, Mukesh Kumar, Atit Sheth, Chetan Sakariya, Navdeep Saini, Upendra Yadav (wk), Shams Mulani, Saurabh Kumar, Akash Deep, B Indrajith, Pulkit Narang, Yash Dhull.
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