Kalsi hits ton before Reds fight back

Bengaluru, August 24

Karun Nair missed out on a century by one run but Himachal Pradesh’s Ankit Kalsi made 106 before India Red were all out for 285 in their Duleep Trophy match against India Blue. 

India Red fought back to reduce their opponents to 74/3 in 24 overs at stumps, getting the key wickets of Shubman Gill (9) and in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad (37).

Resuming at the overnight score of 163/2, Nair’s hopes of scoring a hundred were dashed when he was stumped by Snell Patel off left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar. After losing Harpreet Singh Bhatia (2), Kalsi found an able partner in Ishan Kishan (50) and the two built a crucial partnership. Kalsi, meanwhile, moved into the 90s and appeared to be in danger of missing out on a ton, as Reds slipped to 276/9. He, though, managed to reach his century, off 339 balls, with an inside edge off Diwesh Gurdev Pathania. Kalsi’s marathon knock ended when Jalaj Saxena had him caught by Gaikwad.

Brief scores: India Red: 285 all out in 124 overs (Ankit Kalsi 105, Karun Nair 99, Ishan Kishan 50; Diwesh Pathania 4/55, Jalaj Saxena 3/57, Aniket Choudhary 2/69); India Blue: 74/3 in 24 overs (R Gaikwad 37; J Unadkat 2/18) — PTI