All-round excellent performances by players of India ‘A’, India ‘D’ and India ‘B’ marked the third day of the Duleep Trophy 2024, as the competition gains momentum. Hundreds by Tilak Varma and Pratham Singh put India A in a strong position, while a five-for by Anshul Kamboj proved the significant contribution from the bowlers for India C against India B. As the event folds into the later stages, teams reach the final stages of elimination and progression within the competition. Day three of the Duleep Trophy has brought some vital context to the way the results might eventually pan out.
Tilak Varma and Pratham Singh Lead India A to a Strong Position, Duleep Trophy 2024
India A resumed proceedings on the third day in an enviable position, with Pratham Singh and Tilak Varma continuing the onslaught against India D. For all their good fortune on the second day, which ended with the comic scenario of India D skipper Shreyas Iyer removing Mayank Agarwal. Now the attention swiftly turned to the brilliance of Pratham and Tilak on day three. The two stitched together an important partnership, building upon India A’s significant gain in this game.
Then, the experienced domestic campaigner Pratham Singh reached his hundred with a burst of boundaries against the pacer Vidwath Kaverappa for Railways. His 122 did serve as a good foundation for India A, but once he paired with Tilak Varma it was their partnership that set the course of the day. They put on 114 runs for the second wicket to leave India D chasing a stiff target. Pratham was finally dismissed by spinner Saurabh Kumar, but the damage was already done.
Batting at number four, Riyan Parag struck two sixes, but failed to make a big enough impact and fell for 20. Tilak Varma, on the other hand, continued to be the aggressor as he brought up his century, which was laced with elegance and violence in equal measure. Shashwat Rawat too chipped in with a solid 64 as India A declared their innings at 380-3 thus setting a mountainous target of 488 for India D to chase.
The reply of India D was far from ideal too as Khaleel Ahmed removed opener Atharva Taide for a duck. Ricky Bhui, though, with 44*, and Yash Dubey, who remained unbeaten on 15*, were solid in the middle to take their side to 62/1 at stumps. They still face an uphill task, 426 runs away from an improbable win, with two days of play left.
READ MORE: India C posts commanding total on Day 1 of Duleep Trophy 2024 in Anantapur
Score at stumps, day three:
India A 290 (Shams Mulani 89, Harshit Rana 4-51) & 380-3d (Pratham Singh 122, Tilak Varma 111*) India D 183 (Devdutt Padikkal 92, Khaleel Ahmed 3-39) & 62-1 (Ricky Bhui 44*, Khaleel Ahmed 1-17) India D need a further 426 runs to reach the winning total.Anshul Kamboj’s Five-Wicket Haul Keeps India C in Control
Things were getting really interesting in this India B versus India C encounter on day three, with an absolutely fantastic spell of bowling from Anshul Kamboj. India C had piled up an enormous first-innings total of 525 on a batting-friendly pitch, while India B openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and N Jagadeesan looked solid by close of play on day two, putting on 124 for the first wicket.
But Kamboj broke the stand early on day three, getting Jagadeesan caught behind for 70 in somewhat controversial fashion. With no DRS available, Jagadeesan had to walk after a heated discussion with the umpire.
From there, Kamboj took over the game, ripping through the India B middle order. Musheer Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, and Rinku Singh fell cheaply to the Haryana seamer while Kamboj completed his five-wicket haul by clean-bowling Nitish Kumar Reddy. This was a first five-for in any professional format for the youngster, one which he would cherish fondly.
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Meanwhile, the India B captain Abhimanyu Easwaran remained obdurate as wickets fell around him at regular intervals and reached his century after lunch. He fought hard throughout the day and was still there at stumps on 143 to cut the deficit for India B to 216 runs. He has given India B a slender hope of escaping defeat, though they still have much work to do on day four.
Score at stumps, day three: India C 525 (Ishan Kishan 111, Mukesh Kumar 4-126)
India B 309-7 (Abhimanyu Easwaran 143*, Anshul Kamboj 5-66) India B trail by 216 runs.Conclusion
As the Duleep Trophy 2024 reaches a crucial phase, some unforgettable individual performances stole the limelight on day three of this tournament. Hundreds from Tilak Varma and Pratham Singh put India A in the driver’s seat against India D, while a five-wicket haul by Anshul Kamboj for India C kept them ahead of India B. The teams will thus regroup with just two days to go and take stock of the next step forward as competition heats up for the title.
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