Duleep Trophy: Baba Indrajith sparkles with a double century

Baba Indrajith ended up scoring a maiden double hundred as India Red rubbed salt on the wounds of India Blue on the second day of the Duleep Trophy cricket at the Green Park Stadium on Thursday.

In his 280-ball knock Indrajith struck 20 fours and six 6s, as he cruised past his previous best of 151 in first class.

A century was not even a wild dream, but Baba Indrajith ended up scoring a maiden double hundred as India Red rubbed salt on the wounds of India Blue on the second day of the Duleep Trophy cricket at the Green Park Stadium on Thursday. With the team on 205 for nine, when Vijay Gohil joined him, the 23-year-old Indrajith was on 59. He made 141 more, and reached his double century with a six, before bringing the curtains on a record last wicket partnership by skying a kneeling drive into deep cover.

In his 280-ball knock Indrajith struck 20 fours and six 6s, as he cruised past his previous best of 151 in first class. It was Indrajith’s fifth first class century and second on the trot after the one in the Ranji Trophy earlier this year.

Interestingly, Indrajith’s twin brother Baba Aparajith also has five first class centuries with a highest score of 212! The 178-run partnership between Indrajith and Vijay Gohil blew away the previous record of 139 set by Vijay Yadav and Maninder Singh for North Zone against South in Surat in 1991-92. In that earlier record, 164 runs had been added after the ninth wicket had fallen, but 25 of those were penalties for slow over rate.

Indrajith and Vijay Gohil, who remained unbeaten on 34 off 83 balls, a knock that was studded with six confident hits to the fence, left little room for any confusion as they beat the record by a mile, even though they were unaware of the numbers. After skipper Suresh Raina had rotated eight bowlers in an attempt to break the partnership, which had added 92 runs this day, it was Manoj Tiwary who succeeded in ending the Red innings. After being hit for a six for the double century by Indrajith, Manoj managed to entice a mishit.

India Blue responded efficiently, by scoring 216 for three in 61 overs. While, the seasoned opener Hanuma Vihari was unbeaten on a watchful 86 off 163 balls, skipper Suresh Raina entertained the faithful fans, who had stayed glued to their seats, and kept whistling their appreciation from the popular stands, under the floodlights, with a vibrant half century.

The scores: India Red 1st innings: 383 all out in 108.3 overs.

India Blue 1st innings: 216 for three in 61 overs.