As it happened: India Blue defeats India Red, lifts the trophy

Live updates from the fourth day's play of the Duleep Trophy final between India Red and India Blue, played in NPR College, Dindigul.

Saurabh Kumar, middle, took three for 41 in India Red's second innings after the follow-on was enforced.

Good afternoon and welcome to Sportstar 's live blog of the fourth day's play in the Duleep Trophy final between India Red and India Blue.

 

2.10 pm: Nikhil Ganga is the man-of-the-match for his masterful 130.

A victory selfie for the India Blue team.

 

2.07 pm: The final wicket falls! India Blue completes formalities, thumping India Red by an innings and 187 runs to win the Duleep Trophy. In the end, it just took 10.5 overs on Day Four for India Blue to lift the Duleep Trophy. The spinners were on the money, they bowled probing lengths, pitched in the right areas and got the ball to turn.

Stars of the match: Swapnil Singh, Saurabh Kumar with the ball. Nikhil Gangta, Anmolpreet Singh with the bat.

2.01 pm: Prasidh Krishna goes for a wild heave and Deepak Hooda finds the timber. The batsman misses the ball by a mile as the ball turns in sharply and dislodges the bail. India Red 162/9 and India Blue is within touching distance of winning this now.

1.47 pm: As we were typing that, India Blue has lost its eighth wicket. That's five wickets for Saurabh Kumar. The left-arm spinner continues to torment India Red. Mihir Hirwani edges one and Smit Patel takes a clean catch. Saurabh is on a roll and so is India Red, albeit to the pavilion. India Red 143/8.

1.43 pm: The spinners are operating beautifully and it is now all about how quickly India Blue can wrap this up. This is going to be a huge challenge for the India Red lower order to even sustain a couple of hours.

1.40 pm: India Red loses its seventh wicket. Writtick Chatterjee finds Ricky Bhui at backward shortleg off Deepak Hooda and India Blue is closing in on a huge defeat. India Red 136/7.

1.37 pm: Saurabh Kumar strikes in the seventh ball of the day. Ishan Kishan uses his feet, ball hits the glove and lobs to Anmolpreet Singh at short leg. India Red 135/6.

1.16 pm: India Blue and India Red appear relaxed in what could be the last day of the Duleep Trophy Final. The players are engaged in fielding drills, playing some football while Parvez Rasool walked up to the nets on the side and batted for a while, unleasing some big shots. We are about 20 minutes from the scheduled start of play.

This is what the teams are playing for.

 

India Red, led by Abhinav Mukund, trails India Blue by 231 runs after the follow-on was enforced after being bowled out for 182, in reply to Blue's 541, in the first innings. REPORT