Yadav shines in India Red win

Tribune News service

greater noida, august 26

Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav finished with an impressive nine-wicket haul as Yuvraj Singh-led India Red handed a crushing 219-run defeat to India Green in the first-ever pink ball day-night Duleep Trophy encounter on Friday.

Chasing an improbable 497-run target, India Green were bundled out for 277 in 56.2 overs in their second innings, losing their last three wickets on the final day with the addition of 60 runs after resuming their innings at an overnight score of 217/7.

The final day's play lasted for just 10.2 overs as Yadav added one more wicket to his five-for the previous day to finish with an impressive figure of 6/88 in the second innings.

Earlier, Yadav's 3/32 had stifled the India Green batsmen into submission in the first essay. Yadav picked up the prized wicket of Raina, who resumed at his overnight score of 42. Raina came on to the crease with an attacking intent and looked to take his team as close to the target as possible. With only the tail-end remaining, Raina kept the strike with him and dealt in boundaries and occasional twos to draw closer to his personal milestone of three-figure mark.

Ashok Dinda perished without adding to his overnight score of 10 as Ishwar Pandey caught him at mid-on off Nathu Singh.

After reaching his 39th first class half-century, Raina dispatched Yadav for three boundaries in his second over and then hit him over for a straight six. With just 10 runs away from century, Raina holed out to wide mid-off off Yadav to depart for a well-made 101-ball 90.

Soon, the curtains were drawn on India Green's innings when Pragyan Ojha (7) mistimed his shot off Akshay Wakhare and was caught at long-on by Abhinav Mukund. India Red secured six points for their outright win and will take on India Blue, captained by Gautam Gambhir, from August 29 at the same venue. Abhinav Mukund was named Man-of-the-match for his 77 and 169.

Brief scores: India Red: 161 and 486 (A Mukund 169, S Chatterjee 114, G Mann 82, S Gopal 5/123); India Green: 151 (S Tiwary 50, N Singh 6/53) and 277 (S Raina 90, R Uthappa 72, K Yadav 6/88).