Washington spins India Red to title triumph

Lucknow, September 28 

All-rounder Washington Sundar spun a web around the India Blue batsmen for his successive five-wicket haul of the match, helping India Red win by 163 runs and emerge the Duleep Trophy champions here today.

Sundar, who made his first class debut last season, had a dream Duleep Trophy debut as he finished with a match-haul of 11/181, his maiden 10-wicket haul at this level. Besides, he scored 88 and 42 and was deservingly adjudged Man of the Match. Just like in the first innings, 17-year-old Washington combined with Mumbai left-arm spinner Vijay Gohil (3/102) on a turning track to dismiss India Blue for 229 on Day 4, well short of the 393-run target. 

India Blue had brought themselves back in the game by bowling out India Red for 208 earlier in the day, with spinners Bhargav Bhatt and Akshay Wakhare doing the damage. However, batting last on a deteriorating pitch was always going to be tough and India Blue could only last 48 overs. India Blue were on the back foot ever since conceding a 184-run first-innings lead to India Red, who had scored 483 in their first essay with centuries from 17-year-old Prithvi Shaw and captain Dinesh Karthik.

At 127/2, India Blue were in the game with captain Suresh Raina (45) and Manoj Tiwary (38) in the middle. However, they were trapped lbw by Sundar in quick succession, tilting the game completely in favour of India Red. Sundar and Gohil then ran through the India Blue batting to orchestrate a fine win for India Red.

Brief scores: India Red: 483 all out and 229 all out; India Blue: 299 all out and 229 in 48 overs (Bhargav Bhatt 51; Washington Sundar 6/87, Vijay Gohil 3/102). — PTI